The Magic Creative Writing Contest for 6-13 year-olds

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Explore creativity in your classroom and inspire your students to write mini sagas (stories told in up to 100 words).

The Magic Map can transport them anywhere in space and time using the power of imagination, so it's the perfect activity to link to history, geography, language, science or reading topics, or let creativity run wild!

Check out the video that introduces the activity to your pupils.

Benefits of Entering

✨ Students can put their ELA learning into practice for a real audience

✨ 100-word limit helps focus writing and improve vocabulary

✨ Fantastic writing stamina practice

✨ Open theme to let creativity shine

✨ Brilliant prizes

✨ See students' writing confidence and pride flourish when they see their work published in a book.

There are free resources available to download including a ready-made lesson plan and accompanying PowerPoint (also available in Google Slides), model stories and image prompts.

It's time to chart a course for writing success with The Magic Map - we can't wait to see where it takes your students!

[Rules] =>

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

Teachers please submit your entries together where possible! Include one Teacher Entry Form per teacher.

Entries can be scribed by an adult or typed.

Entries do not have to be on the entry form - please ensure the work is named.

Mini sagas must be your students' own work.

Students can work together - please enter both names on one entry form.

Mini sagas must be told in no more than 100 words (the title isn't included in this).

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

US entrants only.

Free to enter.

[School Prizes] =>

Young Writers’ Award of Excellence is awarded to the school that submits the best set of entries for this contest.

PLUS every participating school receives a free copy of the book their students feature in.

(The more entries you send, the more free books you’ll receive: E.g. Send 1-30 entries & you'll receive 1 free copy, send 31-60 entries you'll receive 2 free copies, etc.)

[Student Prizes] =>

Our favorite writer will win a fantastic creative writing goody bag!

PLUS every entrant receives a bookmark for taking part. Students chosen for publication also receive a certificate.

(The school & student winners will be chosen from the entries received April-June 2025 and prizes awarded the following semester.)

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Your child is invited to explore their creativity and write a mini saga (a story told in up to 100 words) with The Magic Map. It can transport them anywhere in space and time using the power of imagination.

Check out the video that introduces the activity.

Benefits of Entering

· ✨ 100-word limit helps focus writing and improve vocabulary

· ✨ Fantastic writing stamina practice

· ✨ See your child's writing confidence and pride in themselves flourish when they see their work published in a book.

· ✨ Show their teacher how they have put their literacy learning into practice

· ✨ Open theme to let creativity shine

· ✨ Bookmark for every entrant

· ✨Top writer will win an amazing goody bag

· There are free resources available to download including model stories and image prompts to help kick-start ideas.

It's time to chart a course for writing success with The Magic Map - we can't wait to see where it takes your child!

How To Enter

Email your child's entry along with their, name and full address to: [email protected]

Upload their entry at www.youngwritersusa.com/new-uploader or use the link below.

Mail your child's entry along with their, name and full address to:

Young Writers - The Magic Map
77 Walnut Street
Unit 11
Peabody MA 01960

Entries need to be received by June 6, 2025.

[Independent Rules] =>

Only one entry per person.

Please include your child's name, age and full address on their entry.

The mini saga must be told in no more than 100 words (the title isn't included in this).

Independent entries are eligible for the student prize.

The mini saga can be on the entry form or a sheet of paper or typed.

Your child's entry must be their own work.

US entrants only.

Free to enter.

[Independent Prizes] =>

Our favorite writer will win a fantastic creative writing goody bag!

PLUS every entrant receives a bookmark for taking part. Students chosen for publication also receive a certificate.

(The school & student winners will be chosen from the entries received April-June 2025 and prizes awarded the following semester. Independent entrants are eligible to win.)

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This contest is now closed.

If you have late entries, please email us at [email protected] and we'll do our best to accommodate them.

Open contests can be found here.

What happens now?

Our editorial team will process the entries and those that meet the contests criteria will be selected for publication. Letters will be sent out to those selected. Anyone not selected will have the chance to resubmit their work. Winners will be chosen once all the books in the series have been published.

Contest Timeline

Stage	Date	Status
Letters Sent	By 26^th September 2025	✔ Complete
Books Published	24^th November 2025 - 8^th December 2025	⏳ Coming Soon
Winners Announced	30^th January 2026	⏳ Coming Soon

Please note we aim to keep these dates as accurate as possible but can be subject to change.

For more detailed information about your school's entries, please log in (or create) your teacher account here using the email you included on your teacher entry form.