The Young Walter Scott Prize 2019

The Young Walter Scott Prize – the UK’s only creative writing prize specifically for budding historical fiction writers – is currently open for entries.

If you are aged between 11 and 19 and interested in history and writing, the Young Walter Scott Prize is waiting for your work.

Any kind of fiction is accepted – prose, poetry, drama, fictional letters or reportage – it just has to be set in a time before you were born.

Enter your story of between 800 and 2000 words, and you could win a £500 travel grant, a weekend at the Borders Book Festival in 2020, and the chance to see your work in print.

The runners-up in each category receive a £100 book token, and all the winning stories are published in a special Young Walter Scott Prize anthology book.

The closing date is 31st October 2019.

Entries are judged in two categories: 11-15 years and 16-19 years. They're on the lookout for stories with historical relevance and accuracy, originality, a good grasp of language, characterisation and plot.

How to Enter

Submit your entry in hard copy by post, accompanied by an entry form. You can download the Entry Form and Terms and Conditions on their website.

For more information about the Prize, be sure to head over to their website.