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# Guernsey Literary Festival launches WriteStuff 2026 with the theme The Letter
- URL: https://www.thequarry.media/guernsey-literary-festival-launches-writestuff-2026-with-the-theme-the-letter/
- Published: 2026-01-06T09:57:14.000Z
- Updated: 2026-01-06T09:57:14.000Z
- Author: The Quarry
- Tags: News

- 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.

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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](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://writestuff.gg/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767696208507998&usg=AOvVaw3USJB1K7nVuFZbWDsn%5Fw2t)

For more full information on how to enter, resources and downloadable posters, visit [www.writestuff.gg](https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.writestuff.gg/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767696208508219&usg=AOvVaw0IF079oEKWWDHo0gZ5bSdo). For more information on the Guernsey Literary Festival, visit: [www.guernseyliteraryfestival.com](https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.guernseyliteraryfestival.com/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767696208508358&usg=AOvVaw0A30gBUoS1OdnW4Riqp-ne).

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/](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://poemsonthemove.com/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767696208508811&usg=AOvVaw0Y9DxC7%5FZ35CTTj2KC%5F5ax)