Young writers urged to go on a journey

Budding authors are being urged to write about journeys for a children's competition being held as part of Guernsey's literary festival.

Last year's WriteStuff contest attracted 11,000 entries, with submissions from 21 schools as well as home schooled pupils.

There are categories for primary, intermediate and senior age groups and for junior and senior children with additional learning needs.

Winners in each category will receive an original illustration designed by artist Lynda Adlington, who has been commissioned to produce illustrations of the winning stories.

The winning stories and illustrations will also be displayed at the Guille-Allès library and local schools.

The judges include Dr Huw Lewis Jones, a polar-exploring author and naturalist, who grew up in Guernsey and is a guest curator of the festival.

They will be looking for originality, creativity, and style "which will transport them with the writer on the journey".

The competition organisers say this year's theme of journey "conjures up ideas of travel, which may be exciting, eventful, adventurous, disastrous, even life changing".

They said the stories could also suggest a life-changing experience, a journey through time and space; or could be inspired by the writer's own journey through life.

The organisers said: "The title lends itself to myriad interpretations and genres: adventure, fantasy, historical, science fiction, a fictional memoir - the possibilities are endless."

The competition closes on 7 March and prizes will be given out during Guernsey Literary Festival in May.

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