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Published: 17 Sep 2024 264 views
If you are aged between 11 and 19 and interested in history and writing, the YWSP is ready to take you on an adventure! We are the UK’s only creative writing prize specifically for budding historical fiction writers. You could win a £500 travel grant, tickets to one of the UK’s best book festivals, and the chance to see your own work in print in a special anthology. Stories must be between 800 and 2,000 words, and set in a time before you were born.
Honouring the achievements of the founding father of the historical novel, the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction is one of the UK’s most prestigious literary prizes. The winner receives £25,000 and shortlisted authors each receive £1,500. Since it was founded sixteen years ago by the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, the Prize has awarded over £400,000 to writers and brought over 160 great novels to wider public attention. The Walter Scott Prize celebrates quality of writing in the English language, and is open to novels published in the previous year in t... continue reading
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| Application Deadline | 31 Oct 2024 |
| Country to study | United Kingdom |
| Type | Contest |
| Course to study | View courses |
| Sponsor | The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction |
| Gender | Men and Women |
The two overall category winners will be invited to the Borders Book Festival in June 2025 to receive their prizes – a £500 travel voucher and their work published in our printed Anthology.
Entry to this competition is open to persons who will be aged between 11 and 19 years on the 31st October 2024 who are full time residents of the UK (including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man). Proof of age, identity and eligibility may be requested.
Entrance must write piece of historical fiction(between 800 and 2000 words in length) inspired by any aspect of the past – an actual historical event, place or person. Entries must be set in a time before their author was born, in a time clearly different from the present. All stories should be submitted in English. The fiction can be in any form – a story or an extract from a longer work, a poem or drama script, a fictional diary, letters or reportage.
Each entry must be supported by a responsible adult. The adult may be the entrant’s parent, guardian or teacher, or somebody who knows them well. The adult must provide their own contact details and confirm that the work is the original work of the entrant. after this date will not be considered, so please do not wait until the last minute to send your entry.
Only one entry per author is permitted. If more than one entry is submitted, only the entrant’s first submission will be considered.
Each entry must be accompanied by a completed entry form, downloadable at www.ywsp.co.uk.
Entries should be typed on single sides of A4 paper, double spaced, with the pages numbered and paper-clipped. Hand-written entries will only be accepted if written in ink, and clearly legible. Please do not illustrate your work with artwork or photographs.
Brief explanatory introductions or notes can be included but are not compulsory. They need not be included in the word count.
Entries cannot be returned so please remember to retain a copy. Winning entrants will be asked to send their entries electronically.
All entries must be the original work of the entrant and must not infringe the rights of any other party. The Young Walter Scott Prize accepts no responsibility if entrants ignore these Terms and Conditions.
Entries must not contain defamatory, obscene, offensive, or any other unsuitable material. Entries must be suitable to be broadcast, published or used online by The Young Walter Scott Prize for audiences of all ages, but in particular for a young audience.
Entrants retain the copyright in their entries but grant to The Young Walter Scott Prize a perpetual non-exclusive royalty-free licence to publish, broadcast (across all media) and post the entry online and on any other platforms yet to be envisaged. This licence will be deemed to include all the necessary rights and permissions to enable such use by The Young Walter Scott Prize, to fulfil the prizes and to complete the administration of this competition.
The competition is organised by The Young Walter Scott Prize.
Enreies will be judged in two age categories (11 to 15 years) and (16 t0 19 years) on 31th October 2024
Entries will be judged on the following criteria: - Historical relevance and accuracy - Originality - Plot - Characterisation - Language - Attention to detail - Enjoyment
A shortlist will be announced in January 2025 and the judges will then decide on the winners in each category. Shortlistees and winners are notified but we are unable to notify unsuccessful entrants.
Good luck and happy writing!
The 2024 YWSP is now open!
We are now accepting entries for the 2024 competition from young writers aged between 11 and 19. Stories of between 800 and 2,000 words, and set in a time before you were born, should be submitted before the closing date of 31st October 2024. The Terms and Conditions and an Entry form can be downloaded by clicking on this link: Ts and Cs 2024.
