Young Writers Challenge
Awards at Walton Library, 3pm Saturday 19th September
Hello young writers!
Can you imagine a world beneath the Waves? Then why not enter our Young Writers Challenge 2026
We are running a young writers challenge at this year’s Walton Arts Festival and the theme is 'Beneath the Waves'.
All entries welcome from writers 18 and under. We are looking for short stories, comics, and poems. We will be awarding prizes for the funniest, spookiest and most imaginative writing and drawing that relate to the theme.
Drop your entry into The Nose Bookshop (28 Newgate Street, Walton On The Naze) by Sunday 13th September, or email: waltonartsfestival@gmail.com
Awards will be presented on Saturday 19th September from 3-4pm at Walton Library by the brilliant children’s author and comedian James Campbell.
To help get your imagination going, we are running a free ‘zine’ workshop at The Nose bookshop on Saturday 5th September with fab illustrator Emma Thomas from 4pm-5.30pm. This is a chance to transform your ideas and stories from ‘Beneath the Waves' into visual comics. Emma drew the arts festival logo for us, so she will be on the right ‘wave length’ to help you visualise your ideas into a comic strip or zine that you can enter to the Young Writers’ challenge. This workshop is aimed at 10yr-18yr olds and is free! Tell your friends!