What is the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition?

The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition, the annual competition for young people which runs in conjunction with the Branford Boase Award, is now open.

The competition aims to find and encourage writers of the future, something author Henrietta Branford was always keen to do. Anyone under the age of 19 can enter the competition. The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition, the annual competition for young people which runs in conjunction with the Branford Boase Award, is now open. 

Make ‘em laugh!

This year’s competition is inspired by 2024 Branford Boase Award winner Nathanael Lessore, whose book, Steady For This, is laugh out loud funny! The judges are looking for stories, poems, song or rap lyrics that will make them laugh. They can be inspired by real life events (like many of the incidents in Nathanael’s books) or entirely fictitious. 

Nathanael Lessore says, “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!”

The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition Prize

Six winners will receive signed copies of each of the books shortlisted for the 2025 Branford Boase Award. Their stories, poems, song or rap lyrics will be published on the Branford Boase Award website.

When is the closing date for the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition?

The closing date is Friday 30 May 2025.

Who is the chair of The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition?

Chairing the Award is Prue Goodwin, freelance lecturer in literacy and children’s books. Prue taught in primary and middle schools for over twenty years before becoming Director of INSET for the Reading Centre at the University of Reading. She is retired now but still speaks at conferences, offers advice to publishers, and volunteers in libraries and schools. 

Full entry instructions, terms and conditions are available here.

About the Branford Boase Award

Established in 2000, the Branford Boase Award recognises a debut children’s author and, uniquely, their editor and was set up in memory of children’s writer Henrietta Branford and her editor, Wendy Boase, Editorial Director of Walker Books. They both died of cancer in 1999.  

The Branford Boase Award is delivered in partnership with the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) and supported by Walker Books.

Full details are available on the website: www.branfordboaseaward.org.uk 

@BranfordBoase @ALCS_UK @WalkerBooksUK