500 Words returns this autumn! The UK’s biggest children’s story writing competition will be open for entries on Tuesday 24 September.
There will be two age categories: 5-7 and 8-11 year-olds. All children need to do is write a story they would love to read in 500 Words or less.
We would love children of all abilities to enter; spelling, punctuation and grammar are not marked – it’s all about creativity!
50 Finalists will be invited to go to a star-studded grand final in February next year…where the bronze, silver and gold in each category will have their stories read out by celebrities.
They will also take home an illustration of their story by top children’s illustrators, a bundle of books for themselves and the gold winners’ schools will receive 500 books.
Every story which is submitted (excluding the winners) will be entered into a random draw and one child will be invited to the final, along with their parent/carer. They will also receive a bundle of books and their school will receive 500 books.
Earlier this year, 50 finalists attended a special event, hosted by Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace. Also in attendance were our six celebrity readers who revealed the winners; Tom Hiddleston, Oti Mabuse, Hugh Bonneville, Alisha Weir, Olivia Dean and Luke Evans. You can watch the readings performed in a special 500 Words programme with The One Show or read/listen to a top 50 finalist’s story here.
More information on the prizes and final will be announced in September. The winners will be revealed on World Book Day, Thursday 6 March 2025.
It’s incredibly important to us that children of all abilities and backgrounds are able to take part in the competition; therefore each school that enters a story and receives 50% free school meals or more, are entitled to a £50 National Book Token and three £10 book tokens for their pupils.
