Ripples, the Words on the Waves Writers Festival Kids and Schools Program, has launched a short story competition for the budding writers and dreamers of the Central Coast.
The region’s students are encouraged to write a short story inspired by the theme The Ripple Effect.
There are two categories.
For school years 4-6, the word count is between 250 and 500 words.
For school years 7-9, the word count is between 750 and 1,000 words.
Entries in the competition will be accepted until 8pm on Friday, May 10.
Prize winners and honorary mentions will be notified by May 24 and announced at the Words on the Waves Writers Festival Family Fun Day on June 2.
The winner will take home the Ripples Ripper Award, along with a certificate of place, a Kids Gift Card voucher to the value of $100 and a book pack consisting of five current children’s fiction books.
The winning short story will be published on the Words on the Waves website and the winner will also receive an author or illustrator visit to their school and a one-day pass to the Words on the Waves Writers Festival 2025 for the submitting adult.
The total value of the main prize package is $650.
There will be two runner-up awards (the Whale of a Tale Award, valued at $150), one each for grades 4-6 and 7-9.
The runner-up prize package includes a certificate of place, a Kids Gift Card voucher to the value of $50 and a book pack containing three current children’s fiction books.
The runner-up stories will also be published on the Words on the Waves website.
There will also be highly commended prize (the Simply Swell Award, valued at $50) for one student in grades 4-6 and one in grades 7-9.
They will also see their stories published on the Words on the Waves website and will receive a certificate of place and a book pack consisting of two current children’s fiction books.
All stories will be judged on the following criteria: characterisation; structure (beginning, middle and end); plot; originality; language; and enjoyment.
The competition is sponsored by Ettalong Diggers with prizes donated by Walker Books, Penguin Random House and Allen & Unwin.
For further information, or if you would like to sponsor further student events, contact Fiona schools@wordsonthewaves.com.au