Following on from the great success of “The Canterbury Tales Writing Competition 2017/18” The Chaucer Heritage Trust will be holding another writing competition for school age students around the country. Students are invited to submit pieces of original writing inspired by Geoffrey Chaucer’s most famous work: The Canterbury Tales. The special theme of the competition this year is Magic and Trickery.
Who can take part?
The competition is open to all students of school age including not only those in schools and college communities, but also students who are home educated and in any other young people’s community organisations.
The three age groups are:
Junior – 5-10 years old
Intermediate – 11-14 years old
Senior – 15-19 years old
Age on 31 August 2018. Competitors must include their date of birth on the entry form.
Competition Guidelines
Choose ONE of the following:
- A poem or story about someone or something magical.
- A tale involving someone playing a trick.
- A description of a magical place.
Style
- Your writing should invoke the spirit of Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.
- All entries must be in English.
- Think carefully about the language – choosing the words which best convey your intended meaning and message.
- You are encouraged to use everyday language and colloquialisms but if appropriate please include explanations in brackets.
- Think carefully about the characters in your writing and what they say about the world you live in.
Word Count
The maximum word count is 500 words
Deadlines
All entries must be submitted by 31 January 2019
Other Rules
- All entries must be original and entirely that of the student (however, rewritings of existing stories are acceptable if sufficiently original in presentation and content).
- Only one entry may be submitted per person.
- The school portion of each prize is available only to schools in the United Kingdom.
- The decision of the judges will be final.
- The Trust and judges reserve the right not to award a prize in any particular categories if there are not sufficient entries or they feel that the entries are not of sufficient merit.
Prizes
| Category | Prize for the Winning Entrant(s) | Prize for the Winning Entrant’s School Library |
| Junior
(5-10 Years Old)
|
1st £300
2nd £150 3rd £100 |
1st £1000
2nd £500 3rd £250 |
| Intermediate
(11-14 years old) |
1st £300
2nd £150 3rd £100
|
1st £1000
2nd £500 3rd £250 |
| Senior
(15-19 Years Old) |
1st £300
2nd £150 3rd £100
|
1st £1000
2nd £500 3rd £250 |
How to Enter
You can submit your entry at www.chaucer.org.uk/submityourentry
Further Information
Further Information can be found at www.chaucer.org.uk/writing-competition or you can contact Dr Charles Farris at farrisc@chaucer.org.uk