Ripples, the Words on the Waves Writers Festival Children and Young People’s Program, held its second short story competition for budding writers and dreamers of the Central Coast recently.
More than 100 entries were received inspired by the theme: Into The Woods.
Entries came from 14 primary schools, five primary homeschools and five secondary schools as well as submissions via parents.
Six prize packages, totalling $1,700 value, were awarded to students across grades 4-6 and 7-9.
An additional three awards were given due to the high standard of entries and imaginative writing from younger students.
Prize winners were from nine different schools: Erina Heights Public School, Home School, Wyong Christian Community School, Green Point Christian College, Central Coast Grammar School, Central Coast Adventist School, St Philips Christian College Gosford, Niagara Park Public School and Brooke Avenue Public School.
Final judging was done by Fran Carson, judge for the prestigious CBCA (Children’s Book Council of Australia) Book of the Year Awards 2025.
Winners were awarded at the free Family Fun Day on Sunday, June 1.
Prize packages included publishing on the Words on the Waves website, a Kids Gift Card voucher, book packs, an author or illustrator visit to the winning student’s school, and a one-day pass to the Words on the Waves Writers Festival 2026 for the submitting adult.
There were two categories: school years 4-6 (250-500 words); and school years 7-9 (750-1,000 words).
Students were encouraged to submit a short story and go in the running to win prizes for both themselves and their schools.
All stories were judged on characterisation, structure, plot, originality, language and enjoyment.
The competition was sponsored by Ettalong Diggers with prizes donated by Hardie Grant Kids, Penguin Random House, Allen & Unwin, and Scholastic.
