|   YW USA
[email protected]  |  01733 890066   |   Log In

My First Story 2023 |
Creative Writing Competition
| 5-7


My First Story 2023 Video

Get your pupils writing with an engaging story starter video and exciting choice of story templates!

What adventures will your class take Ellie & Robin the elf on?

My First Story is an exciting story writing competition for 4-7 year-olds.

There are 5 themed templates, plus a 'create your own' blank template that all share a simple story starter to help your pupils write their story.

Introduce the lesson using the story starter video to engage your pupils, then they finish the story of Ellie & Robin the elf. Where do they go? What do they do? How will their story end? We can't wait to find out!

Check out the free online resources for download for an immersive creative writing lesson. Every entrant receives a bookmark and sticker, and stories are then read by our editorial team and selected for publication in a real book, giving your pupils a purpose for their writing.

For every 30 entries you submit you get a free copy of the book your pupils feature in so every participating school receives at least 1 free copy. It's free to enter so get involved today!

The Magic Door is also open for this age range, the theme is open and entry forms plus lots more additional resources can be downloaded here.

Closing date: 21st July 2023.

Extended Closing Date: Monday 31st Jul 2023

We've worked with over 20,000 schools. Here's what some of them have to say...

Great competitions and easy to use resources! Highly recommend to all literacy teachers

Mrs King, Steyning Grammar School
See more...

Printed Resources

Save money on printing, let us know how many you'd like of the resources below, and we'll pop them in the post for you!

Create Your Own Story Template
Zoo Template
Pirate Template
Space Template
Magical Template
Jungle Template
Teacher Information

Enter Details to Download

You'll get instant access to free writing resources.
Already have a teacher account? Log In

Please fill in your details...


Search

You'll get access to...

Sequencing Activity
Word Banks
Word Bank Activity
Parent Info Guide
Examples
Create Your Own Story Template
Zoo Template
Pirate Template
Space Template
Magical Template
Jungle Template
Teacher Information
Zoo Word Doc Entry Form
Pirate Word Doc Entry Form
Space Word Doc Entry Form
Magical Word Doc Entry Form
Jungle Word Doc Entry Form
Create Your Own Word Doc Entry Form
Teacher Entry Form

Competition Rules

To make sure your entries are valid, please follow the rules listed below:

Extended Closing Date: Monday 31st Jul 2023
  • Only one entry per pupil, there is no limit to the number of entries per school. Teachers please submit your entries altogether where possible!
  • Ask your pupils to write their story (or an adult can scribe/type it), ensuring their name, age and school name are included.
  • Stories can be on a template or an A4 sheet of paper or typed (on a computer or in the Online Writing Portal).
  • Pupils' stories must be their own work!
  • 250-word limit.
  • Stories can be on any theme but must be inspired by the My First Story story starter.
  • UK entrants only.
  • Free to enter.
  • Open to 4-7 year-olds.
  • If you are unsure on any rules or have any queries, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.

    For Schools

    The school that submits the best overall set of entries will win The Young Writers' Award of Excellence and a £100 National Book Token for their class.

    PLUS every participating school receives a free copy of the book their pupils feature in! (Remember, you receive 1 free copy for every 30 entries you submit! E.g. 1-30 entries you receive 1 copy, 31-60 entries you receive 2 copies, etc)

    (The winner will be chosen from entries submitted in the Summer Term 2023. The prize will be sent in the following term.)

    For Pupils

    Our 5 favourite published writers will each win a fantastic creative writing goody bag!

    PLUS

    Every entrant receives a bookmark and sticker. We award a certificate of merit to all young writers chosen for publication.

    (Winners will be chosen from entries received in the Summer Term 2023. The prize will be sent in the following term. Goody bag image is an example, contents may differ.)

    Download Now

    It’s easy to take part!

    1. Download entry forms
    2. Your students write or type their entry (or an adult can scribe) ensuring their name (or initials) and age are included
    3. Submit your entries using one of the options below

    Enter Online

      Email

    Email your entries to [email protected] and please ensure your pupils' names and ages are on their work, and that you include your name, school name and school address in your email. Thank you!

      Upload

    Upload your entries

      Entrants type their entries online

    Why not combine literacy and ICT by using the online writing portal? Entrants can type their work and you can submit them at the click of a button!

    Writing Portal

      File Sender Services

    You can use different file sender services to enter digitally, such as: WeTransfer, Google Classroom, Dropbox, Send Anywhere, Egress, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Smash, Files.com, Apple iCloud Drive, FileCloud

    Please ensure your name, email and school name and address are included with your entries if you send entries digitally via a non-Young Writers service.

    Download Now

    Send by Freepost

    Send your entries, along with your teacher entry form, to:

    FREEPOST RSLY-AUJA-RAHY
    Young Writers KS1
    Remus House
    Peterborough
    PE2 9BF

    Writing Tips


    Get FREE writing tips sent straight to your inbox!

    Subscribe

    Tips will be added here each week that the competition is running.

    Get In Touch

    Email
    [email protected]

    Tel
    01733 890066

    Post
    FREEPOST RSLY-AUJA-RAHY
    Young Writers KS1
    Remus House
    Peterborough
    PE2 9BF

    Extended Closing Date: Monday 31st Jul 2023