The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition is a writing competition for young people aged 8-18 that runs alongside the Branford Boase Award.

Young writers are invited to submit entries that are inspired by a theme or an opening paragraph set by the winner of the Branford Boase Award for the previous year.

The theme for the 2025 competition is Make Them Laugh, inspired by the 2024 laugh-out-loud winning title Steady For This. Competition entries can be stories, poems, songs or rap lyrics and can be inspired by real events or entirely fictitious.

‘My top writing tip is: listen. If I find something funny, I immediately make note of it. Try that, enjoy writing and good luck in the competition!’ Nathanael Lessore, author of Steady for This.

Six winners will receive signed copies of each of the books shortlisted for the 2025 Branford Boase Award and their winning entries will be published on the Branford Boase Award website. Full entry instructions, terms and conditions are available here.

Timetable:

• The competition launches on 11th February 2025.
• Entries must be submitted by Friday 30th May.
• The winners will be announced in July.

Cost: Free.

About the Branford Boase Award: The Branford Boase Award was set up in 1999 in memory of award-winning author Henrietta Branford and her editor Wendy Boase.