Array ( [article_id] => 13888 [company_id] => 1 [user_id] => 0 [article_type_id] => 58 [article_seo_url] => sos-hunted [details] => Array ( [Title] => SOS Hunted [Description] => Heart racing... sweaty palms... dilated pupils... hairs on the back of your neck stand up... Hunted: Outrun. Outlast. Outwit. [Subheading] => Heart racing... sweaty palms... dilated pupils... hairs on the back of your neck stand up... Hunted: Outrun. Outlast. Outwit. [Age] => 11-18 [Intro] =>

Get your students' gripped with writing as they create their own thriller in just 100 words.

Tension and suspense will have their writing leaping off the page as they enjoy creating their piece inspired by one the enclosed 8 story starters. Your students can interpret them as they wish to, using any time period and narrative techniques they’d like.

There's a fantastic video that introduces your students to the activity in just 1 minute! It's guaranteed to create a buzz in your classroom… let the hunt begin!

[Rules] =>

Only one entry per student; there is no limit to the number of entries per school.

Independent entrants are welcome, please provide your full postal address rather than the school's details.

Stories can be written on the entry form or an A4 sheet of paper.

Stories must be your students' own work and must not exceed 100 words.

Ensure that all students include their name and age on their entries.

[School Prizes] =>

1st Place

£500 resource voucher and the Young Writers’ Award of Excellence

Runners-Up

4 x £250 National Book Tokens

We provide a complimentary copy to every school that takes part too!

[Student Prizes] =>

Our favourite 5 writers will each win £100, a set of Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman & the Young Writers' Award of Excellence.

Pupil winners will be chosen from entries received in the Autumn Term 2019.

[Tips] =>

You’ll see on the student entry form that we have suggested ideas for the theme of hunted. Before you hand these to students, split them into groups. Each group needs a sheet of paper.

Give them 5 minutes to write down as many ideas of what they think could be hunted or the hunter – encourage them to be creative! Think outside the box.

After 5 minutes, bring the class back together and talk through all their suggestions. They should now have an idea on what to write about and you can introduce the story starter postcards!

The story starter postcards are 8 little gems that will inspire your students to get writing regardless of age or their ability! Your students can be inspired by any of these, or simply write their mini saga on the theme of hunted:

It’s not safe now they know...

It has to be here somewhere...

The sirens wailed...

We were close...

I couldn’t run for much longer...

I had 24 hours...

We have to leave. Now.

I still have nightmares about it...

 

Try this activity to get your students writing with tension...

 

Split the class into groups and give each group one of these themes:

• High Stakes – what could be won or lost?
• Dilemma – what two (or more) alternatives could the character choose between?
• Unpredictable – what could the character do that was unexpected?
• Time Limits – what time pressure could be applied to the character?
• Revelation – what could be revealed to add a twist to the tale?

 

Why not inspire you students with exciting endings to wrap up their mini saga perfectly!

Here is our top 3:

• A Twist - an unexpected ending!
• A circular ending - links back to the start of the story
• Cliff-hanger - leaves the reader wondering what happens next...

Split your class into two groups:

The Hunted

Vs

The Hunter

Now a hunter needs to pair with the hunted. Together students need to agree on a plot for the Hunted theme- the hunter then writes their mini saga from their point of view and vice versa with the hunted.

This activity will also make for a fantastic sharing session, where pairs read out their Hunted vs Hunter mini sagas... you could even create an exciting display of their work!

[YouTube] => Kx4XtoqgoKw [Opens] => 2019-11-04 [Closes] => 2020-01-10 [Extended] => 1 [Orion ID] => 430 [RR Ontraport ID] => 243 [DL Ontraport ID] => 242 [Post Class] => SS [Orion Teacher Year] => [How to Enter] => [Winners Subheading] => We're delighted to announce the winners... [Winners Intro] =>

Heart racing... sweaty palms... dilated pupils... hairs on the back of your neck stand up...
Hunted: Outrun. Outlast. Outwit.

SOS Sagas: Hunted creative writing competition invited young adults aged 11-18 years to write a mini saga (a story told in 100 words) inspired by the theme of "Hunted". 

Congratulations to our winners who've each won £100 and a trophy! Thank you to everyone who took part, we loved reading all the amazing mini sagas!

School Winners

1^st Prize – £500

Awarded to Bishop Luffa CE Secondary School, Sussex
Whose students are published in “Hunted – The Chase”

4 x Runners-Up - £250 National Book Token

The Purcell School, Hertfordshire
Whose students are published in “Hunted – Gripping Tales”

Clifton Preparatory School, Bristol
Whose students are published in “Trapped – UK Stories”

Hampton Gardens School, Cambridgeshire
Whose students are published in “Missing – Future Authors” & “Hunted – Electrifying Stories”

Seva School, West Midlands
Whose students are published in “Hunted – UK Tales”

(Winners were chosen from schools who entered the SOS Sagas series: Hunted, Missing & Trapped.)

[Winner Word] => [Schools/Clubs] => Schools [Thumbnail] => https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bonacia-sites/young-writers/competitions/sos-hunted/1352-thumbnail.jpg [Background] => https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bonacia-sites/young-writers/competitions/sos-hunted/3419-background.jpg [Logo] => https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bonacia-sites/young-writers/competitions/sos-hunted/5292-logo.png [Independent Intro] =>
[Independent Rules] =>
[Independent Prizes] =>
[Meta Title] => Young Writers - SOS Hunted Writing Competition [Meta Description] => A Creative Writing Competition for 11-18 year-olds. Help your students develop and grow a passion for writing with our free and fun competition. [Meta Keywords] => young writers, writing competition, children's writing, creative writing, children's writing competition, KS3, key stage 3 [Share Title] => Young Writers - SOS Hunted Writing Competition [Share Description] => A Creative Writing Competition for 11-18 year-olds. Help your students develop and grow a passion for writing with our free and fun competition. [Layout] => main-comp [Icon] => https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bonacia-sites/young-writers/competitions/sos-hunted/1352-thumbnail.jpg [Category] => Secondary 11-18 [Type] => creative-writing [Country] => UK [Resource Hub Text] =>
[Letters Sent Date] => [Letters Sent Satus] => ⏳ In Progress [Books Published Start Date] => [Books Published End Date] => [Books Published Status] => ✔ Completed [Winners Announced Date] => [Winners Announced Status] => ✔ Completed [How to Enter Image] => [Video Placeholder] => https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bonacia-sites/young-writers/competitions/sos-hunted/3417-video-placeholder.jpg [School Prize] => [Student Prize] => https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bonacia-sites/young-writers/competitions/sos-hunted/4126-student-prize.jpg [Banner Background] => https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bonacia-sites/young-writers/competitions/sos-hunted/2343-banner-background.jpg [Banner Logo] => https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bonacia-sites/young-writers/competitions/sos-hunted/6339-banner-logo.png [Share Image] => https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bonacia-sites/young-writers/images/page-content/3414-share-image.jpg ) [date_created] => 2019-11-04 00:00:00 [last_updated] => 2025-09-17 12:37:27 [sort_order] => 147 [incoming] => 0 [live] => 1 [archived] => 0 [deleted] => 0 )