Courses and Competitions: BBC Radio 2’s 500 Words Competition

Are you a budding writer or do you know one who is between 5-13 years? Well, BBC Radio 2’s 500 Words writing competition is back for 2016.

It’s an opportunity for young children to write, submit their story and win an amazing prize.

According to the 500 Words website, the story needs to be an original piece of fiction. It can be on any subject or theme. It just needs to be five hundred words or fewer.

The winning story could be read live on the radio by a superstar celebrity such as Hugh Bonneville, Sir Kenneth Branagh, Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch or Jeremy Irons (Scar from The Lion King) and it could be heard by the millions of Radio 2 listeners.

The judges include Malorie Blackman, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Charlie Higson and Francesca Simon. Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall will also be returning for 2016 as an honorary judge.

The competition is open now for entries and closes at 7pm on Thursday 25th February 2016. 

The stories will be judged in two age categories; 5-9 years and 10-13 years. All they ask is that the people entering are between these ages at the time of the final which is 27th May 2016 and are full UK residents.

The final will be held at Shakespeare’s Globe on 27th May 2016. First prize is not only five hundred books for your school library, it’s also Chris Evans’ height in books. He is 1.88 meters tall so that is a lot of books.

Second prize is Alex Jones’ height in books and the winner of third prize will win their own height in books.

For full details on the competition as well as terms and conditions and the online submission form, visit the 500 words website at www.bbc.co.uk.

Good luck everyone.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.