2009 saw the launch of the Usborne Young Writers’ Award. Created to celebrate five years of fiction from Usborne, the award offered children the unique opportunity to write a storywith a real author. The competition was an unrivalled success with over 5,000 entries and 15,000 hits on the dedicated website.
Due to phenomenal demand, the Usborne Young Writers’ Award is back for 2010! With NEW AUTHORS, NEW STORY STARTERS and an exciting NEW PRIZE, the award promises to be even bigger. With the support of Young Writer Magazine, Readingzone.com, The Federation of Children’s Book Groups, the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Cheltenham Literary Festival, The Hay Festival, Bath Festival of Children’s Literature and Write Away, among others, we hope to encourage all the budding young writers in the UK to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboards).
“One thing that connects all the authors on the Usborne Fiction list is their brilliant storytelling ability, and this award is a great way to celebrate this fact but also to encourage the practice of such an important skill.” ‐ Megan Larkin, Usborne Fiction Director
This year the five winning children will see their stories published as an eBook App, which will be available to download from the Apple iTunes App Store, courtesy of media ideas company Sleepydog.
How does the award work?
Usborne authors Sophie McKenzie, Steve Skidmore & Steve Barlow, Diana Kimpton, Keith Brumpton and Anne‐Marie Conway have each written one of FIVE very different story starters. There is a story starter to suit every taste, from murder mystery to fairytale adventure! Imaginations can run wild (as long as the finished story is a 1,000 words or less). Story starters can be read and downloaded, by visiting: www.usborne.co.uk/youngwritersaward
There are also writing tips, author videos and information and the winning stories from 2009 online.(Entries can be submitted online or by post) FIVE winners will be chosen, each of whom will win these amazing prizes:
A trip to Usborne House in London to meet the authors
An author visit at their school
£100 worth of Usborne books
A year’s free subscription to readingzone.com
A year’s free subscription to Young Writer Magazine
How do young writers get involved? Just visit the website:
www.usborne.com/youngwritersaward
For more information on the Usborne Young Writers’ Award contact Sally Oliphant, Usborne Publicity
Email: sallyo@usborne.co.uk Telephone: 0207 890 3192
