The Time To Write 2026 competition is open for entries.
Submission Guidelines
- This year’s theme is ‘thread’
- Open to young writers in the following categories:
- Writers in Years 3 and 4: 500 words
- Writers in Years 5 and 6: 650 words
- Writers in Years 7, 8, and 9: 750 words
- Writers in Years 10 and 11: 1000 words
Entry conditions: Must be entered by a school.
Prizes:
- The winning stories will be transformed into illustrated books, created with third-year Illustration students from Arts University Bournemouth.
- Each winner will also receive an audiobook player, audiobooks and a set of accessories, an Oxford Dictionary, and a winner’s hoodie.
- The two runners-up in each category will see their story come to life through an illustrated concept page, created by illustration students at Arts University Bournemouth.
- Certificates will be awarded to all writers in the top ten of each category.
- The winning writer’s schools will each be awarded a set of books for their libraries
Deadline: 1 February 2026.
Please note: This is an external competition; all details, all submissions are via their website.