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The Magic Door |
Creative Writing Competition
| 5-12


The Magic Door Graphic

Unlock your pupils' imaginations with The Magic Door...

Where endless worlds of wonder await!

The Magic Door is here to engage your pupils aged 4-12 years old with story writing, so the theme is open making it easy to inspire your pupils with something they are interested in or you can easily tailor the resources to your topic.

The colourful worksheets make it easy to get planning and write a story. Where will the magic door take your pupils? Who will they meet? What will they experience?

Stories can be fictional or based on a recount of a real event, set anywhere in time or space, or even a whole new world. Pupils with a creative flair will love the freedom and your more reluctant writers will feel supported by using a familiar topic or recount.

Let's get writing and see where the magic door takes your class...

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!

You may find this The Magic Door Teacher FAQs blog useful too!

My First Story is also open (for 4-7 year-olds) and uses a story starter and templates if you are looking for a scaffolded writing activity for younger pupils.

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!

Pupil Worksheet

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Parent Info Guide
Examples
Story Setting Word Bank Activity
Fairy Tale Sequencing Activity
Cross-Curricular Descriptive Writing Activity
Pupil Worksheet
Teacher Folder
Teacher Entry Form
PDF Presentation
Descriptive Writing PowerPoint
Pupil Entry Form Word Doc
The Magic Door Outline
The Great Fire Of London Sequencing Activity
Space Sequencing Activity

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 the entry form 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 Magic Door.
  • UK entrants only.
  • Free to enter.
  • Open to 4-12 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.

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    Send by Freepost

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

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

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    Get In Touch

    Email
    [email protected]

    Tel
    01733 890066

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

    Extended Closing Date: Monday 31st Jul 2023