Young Writers Competition

Stowe House Preservation Trust – Young Writers Competition

“The Banquet”

The State Dining Room at Stowe House has held many sumptuous dinners over the last 300 years. The 2^nd Duke even had it lavishly redecorated at great expense for Queen Victoria’s visit in 1845. The Dining Room is still used for dinners today by Stowe School pupils, for fancy wedding breakfasts and by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's who visited in 2007. It is currently undergoing restoration work to repair and restore it to its former beauty.

In this writing competition we’re inviting you to write a 500-750 word story about an imaginary banquet (a fancy, formal meal for many people) held in the State Dining Room here at Stowe House. The choice of genre is up to you; we welcome stories from fantasy to comedy to horror! We have included an inspiration page with pictures and facts of the room to get you started.

We have two categories:

Age 7-11:  up to 500 words in length. 

Age 12-16:  up to 750 words in length

Deadline: 19th April 2021

Terms and conditions:

• Your story should be the following length:
  • Category 1 - Age 7-11: We are looking for a short story up to 500 words in length
  • Category 2 -  Age 12-16: We would love to read a short story up to 750 words in length
• Entries must be received by 19^th April 2021.
• Only stories with an entry form will be accepted. An application form for each entry must be submitted and can be downloaded here or by emailing houseinfo@stowe.co.uk 
• Entry is open to all students aged between 7 and 16 years of age at time of submission.
• Entries must be typed or handwritten and legible.
• All stories should be submitted in English. 
• Entries must be sent to houseinfo@stowe.co.uk with the completed entry form. 
• Without this form, your entry will not be accepted.  
• Your entry can be illustrated. 
• Only one entry per person is permitted and the story must be wholly written by the entrant only; stories cannot be written by more than one person.
• Entries must be an original piece of fiction and not an account of real events, it must not include the personal details of any living persons and the entrant must not include their name in the title or body of the story.
• Entries must not contain defamatory, obscene, offensive, or any other unsuitable material.
• Entrants retain the copyright in their entries, but their parent or guardian grants Stowe House Preservation Trust a perpetual non-exclusive royalty-free licence to publish, broadcast (across all media) and post the entry online and on our website.
• Results of the competition will be posted on the Stowe House Website and social media sites.  
• Winning entries will be showcased on the Learning section of website.
• Entries will be judged by a panel of judges on the following criteria:

• Originality

• Plot

• Characterisation

• Language

• Enjoyment

• Prizes will be awarded to 1 finalists in each age category:

                        • 2 x First Prize winners will win a £15 book voucher.

• Prize-winners will be emailed in May 2021 and will receive their prizes via post.