Why this 400 word challenge in Leeds is inspiring young children to have 'heaps of creativity'
Young writers are being urged to put pen to paper to help celebrate 400 years of history for Leeds.
Leeds Lit Fest has teamed up with The Grammar School at Leeds and is supported by the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society, to ask children to get creative to mark the milestone moment in the city’s rich history.
The 400 Words of Leeds 400 competition marks the city’s receiving its Royal Charter from King Charles I back in 1626.
The competition challenge is to write an original story, poem, monologue, or piece of creative non-fiction up to a maximum of 400 words. Writers can write about Leeds or the number 400.
There are prizes for winners in every age category, including book tokens for winners and their schools. Winning stories will be published online with an invitation to a special awards event at a popular Leeds-based venue.
Bronagh Daly, partnerships' director at Leeds Lit Fest, said: “This is our first ever citywide creative writing competition for children and young people from Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) through to Sixth Form.
“It’s time for our young people to get creative and help Leeds Lit Fest to celebrate 400 years of Leeds receiving its Royal Charter from King Charles I back in 1626.
She continued: “The young people of Leeds have so much talent and it is only right that we shine a light on their capacity for radical imagination, especially for the children who might think that creative writing is not for them. All we ask is to see heaps of creativity in every submission.”
Michael Hall, principal of The Grammar School at Leeds said: “Leeds has a long and proud literary tradition, and we are delighted to partner with Leeds Lit Fest to launch a new writing competition for young people across the city region.
“The theme of this inaugural competition is ‘400’, marking the quatercentenary of Leeds receiving its first Royal Charter from King Charles I.
“We will be inviting children and young people to reflect on the city’s first 400 years and be inspired to put pen to paper, writing stories and creating poems.”
Entries can be submitted here and the deadline is midday on Friday, May 8.