Mission Imagination
Creative Writing Competition
Ideal for 7-12
WHERE WILL 100 WORDS TAKE YOU?
YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE STARTS HERE!
A mysterious clue. A magical kingdom. A distant planet. A wild adventure. Where will your imagination take you?
Mission Imagination is a FREE creative writing competition for 7–12 year-olds, inviting you to choose an exciting mission and turn your ideas into a mini saga of up to 100 words!
Whether you love fantasy, mysteries, space, nature, or spooky stories, there's a mission waiting for you. Or you can invent your very own!
Best of all, your story could be published in a real book, with fantastic prizes to be won!
CHOOSE YOUR MISSION!
Every great story starts with an idea. Pick a mission that excites you and see where it takes you!
EXPLORE SPACE
Discover a new planet, meet an alien, or set off on an adventure among the stars!
ENTER A FANTASY
Step into a magical kingdom, discover an enchanted object, or meet a mythical creature!
SOLVE A MYSTERY
Follow a strange clue, investigate something missing, or uncover a secret!
GO WILD
Explore the jungle, encounter an amazing animal, or discover the wonders of nature!
SEEK ADVENTURE
Set off on a daring journey, discover somewhere new, or face an unexpected challenge!
GET SPOOKED
Explore a haunted house, hear a mysterious noise, or meet something that goes bump in the night!
OR INVENT YOUR OWN MISSION!
These are just starting points. Mix ideas, add your own twist, or create a completely different adventure. Your story, your imagination!
READY TO WRITE YOUR MINI SAGA?
You don't need to write pages and pages to tell an amazing story. Just 100 words can take your reader somewhere extraordinary!
CHOOSE YOUR MISSION
Pick an idea that sparks your imagination.
BUILD YOUR STORY
Decide where your story takes place, who is in it, what happens, and how it ends.
POWER UP YOUR WRITING
Add exciting details, choose your words carefully, and create your mini saga in up to 100 words!
Your story can be funny, exciting, mysterious, magical, or completely unexpected. Make it your own!
YOUR STORY COULD BE PUBLISHED!
Imagine seeing your own story printed in a real Young Writers book!
Mission Imagination gives young writers the chance to share their creativity with readers beyond the classroom.
Every entrant receives a bookmark and sticker for taking part. Young writers whose work we'd love to publish will also receive a certificate.
FANTASTIC PRIZES TO BE WON!
CREATIVE WRITING HAMPERS
Our favourite 10 young writers will each win a fantastic creative writing hamper!
SEE YOUR STORY IN PRINT
Selected mini sagas could appear in a real Young Writers book!
Winners will be chosen from entries received during the autumn term 2026. Prizes will be awarded the following term.
READY TO ENTER MISSION IMAGINATION?
Write your mini saga in up to 100 words. Your title doesn't count towards the word limit.
You can use the Mission Imagination entry form, write your story on A4 paper, or type it. Make sure to include your name, age, and parent/carer contact details.
ENTER ONLINE
Upload your story using our online entry system .
EMAIL YOUR STORY
Email your story and contact details to [email protected] .
ENTER BY POST
Send your story and contact details to:
Young Writers PS
Remus House
Peterborough
PE2 9BF
Free to enter. No purchase necessary.
Rules
To make sure your entries are valid, please follow the rules listed below:
YOUR STORY
- Mission Imagination is ideal for young writers aged 7–12 years, other ages are welcome to enter.
- Stories must be the child's own original work.
- Choose one of the six missions, combine ideas, or create your own adventure.
- Write a mini saga of no more than 100 words, excluding the title. (Stories can be fewer than 100 words)
- Stories can be handwritten or typed.
- An adult can scribe for a child where needed.
PREPARING YOUR ENTRY
- Give the story a title. The title does not count towards the 100-word limit.
- Include the child's name and age.
- Include a parent or carer's contact details & address so we can contact you about the entry.
- You can use the Mission Imagination entry form, write on A4 paper, or submit a typed story.
SENDING YOUR ENTRY
- Entries can be submitted online, emailed, or sent by post.
- Please ensure the story and accompanying details are clear and legible.
- If an adult has written down the child's words, the story must remain the child's own work.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Free to enter.
- Independent entrants are eligible for the same pupil prizes as school entrants.
- Every entrant receives a bookmark and sticker.
- Children whose work we'd love to publish will also receive a certificate.
- No purchase necessary to win.
If you are unsure on any rules or have any queries, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.
Prizes
Our favourite 10 young writers will each win a fantastic creative writing hamper for their Mission Imagination mini saga!
Selected mini sagas could be published in a real Young Writers book, giving young authors the exciting opportunity to see their words in print.
Every entrant receives a bookmark and sticker for taking part. Young writers whose work we'd love to publish will also receive a certificate.
Independent entrants are eligible for the same pupil prizes as school entrants. Winners will be chosen from entries received during the autumn term 2026. Prizes will be awarded the following term. Image is for illustration purposes, contents may vary.