SIR - Are you 16 or 17 or do you have memories of life at this age? If so, you may be interested in entering a creative writing competition run by The Children’s Society as part of our Seriously Awkward campaign.
The campaign aims to improve life for vulnerable 16 and 17-year-olds by securing more sustained help as they move into adulthood.
For the competition - run in partnership with Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House - we're looking for fictional stories by unpublished writers of up to 2,000 words about this awkward age, with categories for both young people aged 16-25 and adults aged 26 and over.
Whether you're an aspiring writer or have never before written, why not think about what life can be like for 16 and 17-year-olds and craft your own story?
The prospect of adulthood can be both exciting and terrifying. For vulnerable young people this can come with risks including child sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, substance misuse and mental health problems.
Writing experts including international best-selling author Emma Healey will judge the competition, and the winners will be offered advice and feedback by top literary agencies Darley Anderson and David Higham Associates.
Visit childrenssociety.org.uk/writing and enter by August 31.
Matthew Reed, Chief Executive, The Children’s Society
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