Guernsey Literary Festival launches WriteStuff 2026 with the theme The Letter
- Young writers can enter the 12th edition of WriteStuff competition.
- Entrants challenged to write 300-word story on the theme The Letter.
- Panel of judges includes award author and illustrator.
- Guernsey Literary Festival takes place from 23 April to 3 May.
The annual WriteStuff competition for young writers across the Bailiwick of Guernsey launched on 6 January, inviting students to take part in a creative challenge themed The Letter.
It comes ahead of the 2026 Guernsey Literary Festival, which will run from 23 April to 3 May.
Now in its 12th year, WriteStuff challenges entrants to create an original 300-word story centred on the theme, and is open to children and young people from Year 3 upwards.
Schools across the island will be encouraging students to take part before the closing date on 6 March, when the entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges.
The panel is made up of the award-winning picture book author-illustrator Jarvis; author of the much-loved Charlie and Lola series, Lauren Child; Carnegie-shortlisted, award-winning author of Steady For This, Nathanael Lessore; and the natural history writer, explorer and children’s writer Huw Lewis-Jones.
Festival Director, Claire Allen said: “We love seeing the creativity and imagination that WriteStuff inspires every year, and this year’s theme gives young writers so much to play with. Guernsey has such a lot of young local talent; the entries we see really do get better and better every year.
“The panel definitely has a tough job, but we have such a brilliant line-up of judges. They’re a real inspiration for the young people who enter, and their involvement makes the competition even more special.”
The competition is supported by festival partners including the Guille-Allès Library, Aurigny, Island Families, and U&US.
Local illustrator Tim Gaudion will create bespoke illustrations for the winning stories, which will be gifted to the winners at the awards ceremony on 2 May during the Festival.
There will also be a cash prize of £50, Island Families membership, a signed book and a trophy for the winner in each of the five categories, with £25 cash prizes for second and third places.
Supporting the main judging panel are a team of experienced local filter judges, including Julia Bichard and Adam Bayfield from the Guille-Allès Library, retired English teachers Maz Campbell and Sue Williams-Smith, and creative education specialist Suzie Almond, who brings experience from judging BBC 500 Words and Settle Stories competitions.
The competition includes four categories:
- Primary (Years 3–6)
- Intermediate (Years 7–9)
- Senior (Years 10+)
- ALN (junior and senior classes designed for writers with additional learning needs)
Entries should be submitted directly through the website by 6 March: https://writestuff.gg
For more full information on how to enter, resources and downloadable posters, visit www.writestuff.gg. For more information on the Guernsey Literary Festival, visit: www.guernseyliteraryfestival.com.
There’s also still time to enter the Guernsey International Poetry Competition, Poems on the Move , which closes for entries on Thursday 15 January.
The competition welcomes poets from across the globe and selected poems will be displayed in public spaces across Guernsey – including the airport, harbour and the island’s buses. To find out more about Poems on the Move visit https://poemsonthemove.com/
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