Reigate and Banstead Writes the creative writing competition

Reigate and Banstead Writes the creative writing competition which anyone between 9 and 14 can enter this year!

They all had to start somewhere!

Are you (or could you be) a writer? • Do you enjoy stories? • Do you sometimes write your own? • Are you imaginative? • Then this competition is for YOU!

Reigate and Banstead Writes started two years ago. It was the idea of Kay Hymas, the librarian at The Warwick School in Redhill. What is Reigate and Banstead Writes? Its purpose is to encourage young writers, across the whole of our borough. After a successful first year, with more than 400 entries, last year there were even more. The judges were kept very busy! This year, the format will be slightly different. This year’s competition will be open to 9 – 13 year olds. Or school years 4 -8.

How do you enter? • Your story must be fictional (made up), not an account of real events. • It must be no more than 1000 words – though it could be less. • It must be your own work. • Above all, it must be set in a place, or places, within the Borough. • The deadline for entries is 31 st March. • Your story must have an entry form attached. • You can hand it in at school or send it direct to R&B Writes, c/o The Warwick School, Noke Drive, Redhill. RH 1 4 AD.

What sort of thing might you write about? Perhaps a time portal has opened in Reigate Castle grounds? Or an army of ducks has taken over Reigate Priory? Or kidnappers are holding their victim in the old windmill on Reigate Heath? Or secret messages are being passed amongst the shelves in Horley Library? Or there are dirty tricks at the Banstead Park Run?

• …can be set in the past, the Your story… present or the future • …can be in any genre • …can be whatever you would like it to be… • as long as it is set somewhere within our Borough.

Here’s the opening of last year’s winning story, by Katie. The Black Knight It was dark. It was cold. The wind swept past me, hitting my cheeks like the blade of a knife. Up ahead, I could see the distinct shape of Baron’s Cave. I pushed on through the rain, which thundered down on me like a hammer and soon I was touching the rough, icy -cold surface of the pyramid. Reigate Castle is not a safe place to go at night. Strange things happen. People do not come back. Like my best friend Elizabeth. Feeling my way round the pyramid, I gripped tightly the rusty, metal gate and tugged it as hard as I possibly could. It didn’t move an inch. Swinging my rucksack off from around my shoulders and onto the floor, I took my dad’s crowbar out and let out a cry as I struck the lock with all my strength. To my relief, the lock threw itself onto the drenched grass with a loud ‘thud’; now, I could find Elizabeth. The reason why no one goes back to the pyramid is because no one comes back. The reason why no one comes back is because of the Black Knight. The Black Knight stalks Reigate Castle like a lion hunting its prey, snatching any trespassers and hiding them away in Baron’s Cave. These were thoughts that were darting around my head like arrows. Wrenching open the gate, I peered into a sea of darkness. Did it go straight down? How far did it go? I buried these questions inside me and began to edge into the tunnel. Grime clogged up my nose and I retched and coughed at the smell of stale air. My cheeks brushed the jagged straight walls, but I staggered on.

You can read other winning entries from previous competitions on our website – where you’ll also find lots of useful information about other local events www. reigateandbansteadwrites. co m

This year’s competition will be even more exciting… because it will be part of a brand new ‘mini fringe festival’ – Rock and Write Talks and workshops with local authors …and lots more besides! See website for details

This year, YOU could be a winner! “You’re young, you’re funny, you’re clever: you have words pouring out of you like sparks from a firework. Put them to use in the Reigate and Banstead Writes short story competition, and discover the joy of creativity. ” Anthony Mc. Gowan, author and Reigate and Banstead Writes champion