The Competition is designed to encourage entrants to be as free and as expressive as is possible. In this context truly original thought and writing style will supersede detail of correct syntax and grammar, though entrants should strive to work to good standards of English.

In category 1, for children of 7-9, whose mastery of the language is still in formative stages, the aim is to encourage individual expression. For this reason, subject matter as outlined below might appear to be restrictive and children should be encouraged to write to any theme, so long as the entry is original and not the product of prompts. The following subjects for category 1 are suggested:
If I had special powers
An event I will remember.

In category 2, children of 10-11 are beginning to experiment with styles and narrative techniques and should be encouraged to write to a theme - I Want to Change Things- exploring aspects of life which are unique to them. The style may be humorous, serious or ironic and may take any form - poetry, narrative, essay, etc. Again, the aim is to encourage individual thought. Parents and teachers should take special note of Rule 4.

In category 3, young people from age 12-16 may explore any theme, in any style. The aim here is to be original and creative - to excite, inspire, jolt, elate,amuse, depress, educate, inform, entertain or other. Truly no barrier is placed here in subject or style, except that the subject is confined to fiction. Fiction, though, need not be a short story but can be in any appropriate form.

In the adult category the theme is creative writing - of any subject and any genre.

NB. To all categories. While there are no restrictions on subject matter all entrants should be aware of appropriateness and the legal constraints imposed on the publication of work in terms of copyright, libel, decency, etc. Work which, for legal reasons, cannot be published is unlikely to be selected.