Writing can be hard. Never mind writer’s block, the very motivation to put pen to paper can be elusive. So thank goodness that BBC Radio 2’s 500 Words competition is back offering children aged 13 and under the incentive to write an original work of fiction in no more than 500 words.
The stories will be judged in two categories, 9 and under, and 10-13 years. First prize take home Chris Evans’s height in books (6ft 2”), second prize winners get a stack of books the same height as Alex Jones (5ft 6”), and bronze place winners get a pile of books measuring up to their own height.
And if the competition and prizes are not motivation enough to get the ideas flowing, the 500 Words website has lots of inspiration, including a video featuring celebrities sharing their favourite words – and writing tips. You’d never guess Eddie Izzard and Rob Brydon’s, and Chris Evans’s is downright obscure.
The Alphabot is here to help! Just press his tummy to get five words to start your story
The site also has a new feature for this year’s competition – Alphabot – an online robot who will generate five words to inspire you. Last year the word most used across all the stories entered was ‘Mum’- as one myself that gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling.
There’s also a free downloadable learning pack and you can read winning stories from previous years, or hear them being read at previous year’s finals by the likes of Miranda Richardson, Michael Ball, Michael Palin and others. The quality and variety is quite astonishing. 2013 Bronze winner Archie O’Dair’s piece starts:
“There is a man watching me. He doesn't think I know he's there, but I do. He was there yesterday too staring at my home as if he is waiting for something. He carries some sort of machine and it is making me nervous. I am scared and don't want to go out so I am sitting here watching him back.”
Intriguing no? You can read the rest on the 500 words site.
Once you’re 100% happy with your story (you can only enter once) you need to submit it through the site the deadline is 7pm on Wednesday 26 February.
This year’s judges are TV presenter Richard Hammond; author Francesca Simon; Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman; actor, comedian and author Charloe Higson; and Frank Cottrell Boyce the writer behind the London 2012 Opening Ceremony. Frank’s also recorded his writing tips for the competition.
Volunteer judges are also sought to help sift through the entries (last year there over 90,000 stories submitted) – the team are looking for teachers or librarians who can read a batch of about 30 stories in early March. Find out how to apply here.
The top 50 authors will all be invited to the 500 WORDS Final on Friday 30 May to hear the winners announced live from the Hay Festival on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, which attracts an average weekly audience of 9.35 million.
And I’ve fulfilled my brief from Jon Jacob – write about 500 Words in 500 words exactly. Done.
Hannah Khalil is Digital Content Producer, About the BBC Website and Blog.
- Read all about the competition, see resources and enter at the 500 Words site.
- Read the press release on the Media Centre.
