Six young writers to be awarded prizes for their writing by author Michael Morpurgo
After judging over 100 entries from across the South West, Literature Works is pleased to announce the six winners of the Quay Words Trading Places Flash Fiction Competition.
Young writers in two age categories were tasked with producing very short pieces of creative writing, 250 words for 14-18 year olds and 500 words for 10-14 year olds. Three talented young writers have placed first, second and third in each category. They have won cash prizes and publication in the forthcoming Quay Voices #1 Anthology of new writing from Exeter Custom House. The winners were:
10 -14 years
- 1st place: Rueben T., aged 11: Trading Places
- 2nd place: Mohamed Y., age 12, Run to the Shops
- 3rd place: Harry G., aged 12: Say the Magic Word
14-18 years
- 1st place: Holly E aged 16: Concrete Purgatory
- 2nd place: Filippo R., age 17: At Ivory Hall
- 3rd place: Jessica A., aged 16: The Different Sizes of Infinity
You can read all the entries here.
Comments from the winners:
"I'm really excited to have won first prize and I can't quite believe it! I have always loved reading and writing stories and this has really boosted my confidence. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity." Reuben
“The competition was such a fun experience because it allowed so much creative freedom - I’m so grateful that I got to take part. I was genuinely shocked when I found out that I had won, and so it has definitely inspired me to continue writing” Holly
The prize money was generously donated by Exeter College, and advice resources provided by the Bridport Prize. The Quay Words team were amazed by the quality across the board of entries, and are so pleased to be able to celebrate the writing talent of young people in the South West through the medium of flash fiction.
On 24th July the winners will take part in a prize-giving ceremony with the much-loved children’s author Michael Morpurgo. In addition to the prize money their winning entries will be published in the first Quay Words Anthology, Quay Voices #1, which will be published on 26th July and available to buy from Impress Books.
The Trading Places competition will return with submissions opening later this year for more budding young writers in the South West to take part.
Quay Words is a partnership between Exeter Canal and Quay Trust and Literature Works, the literature development charity for South West England. Quay Words is based at the historic Exeter Custom House on Exeter Quayside. It showcases literature as an accessible and diverse art form and is funded by Arts Council England until May 2022 to continue developing this Grade 1 listed building as a hub for literature at the heart of Exeter – a newly-designated UNESCO City of Literature. For further information, please visit the Quay Words website: www.exetercustomhouse.org.uk
