We are looking for the next young change maker
Story Writing
Competition
Submit by
28th April 2025
Theme:
An Experience from Your Life – stories inspired by friendship, pets, loved ones, school life, adventure, or any meaningful moment.
Outstanding stories will be part of AIM Literary Festival 2025
We will select 50 stories to publish in an anthology showcasing young talent. The anthology will be launched at the 6th Annual AIM Literary Festival 2025 on October 5th at the Roald Dahl Museum.
BRINGING THE JOY OF READING AND WRITING BACK INTO CHILDREN'S LIVES
Through initiatives like the AIM Story-Writing Competition, we’re inspiring the next generation to embrace the joy of reading, writing, and self-expression. Together with our partners, let’s amplify young voices, celebrate their creativity, and build a future filled with confident, imaginative storytellers.
​
Continuing our mission to inspire children to read and write for pleasure, the AIM Story-Writing Competition invites young writers aged 7–15 from across the UK to submit short fictional stories inspired by personal experiences. By providing a platform to showcase their creativity, we aim to empower young writers to develop their voices and thrive. This nationwide initiative is supported by Roald Dahl Museum, Buckinghamshire Libraries, Inclusive Books, and the Youth Libraries Group. Their collaboration amplifies our shared commitment to nurturing a love for reading, writing, and storytelling among children.
Key Competition Details:
​
Theme: An Experience from Your Life – stories inspired by friendship, pets, loved ones, school life, adventure, or any meaningful moment.
Word Limit: 600 words
Age Range: 7–15 years
Submission Deadline: 28th April 2025
Submit to: Via the form or email info@authorinme.com
​
SUBMIT YOUR STORY
Unleash Your Talent
Join the AIM Literary Festival 2025
Empowering Young Voices
Over the years, at Author In Me, we’ve had the privilege of working with hundreds of children, fostering their confidence and unlocking their potential.
At AIM Literary Festival, we are deeply committed to nurturing confidence and expression in children. Through Young Voices, a dedicated day for children, we provide a vibrant platform for young talents to share their creativity. Whether it’s writing, music, or art, we celebrate their unique voices and empower them to shine. Our past festivals have proudly showcased the creativity of young minds. At last year’s children’s event at the Roald Dahl Museum, a 10-year-old budding writer and poet delivered the keynote speech, inspiring children with her journey. A musical band of talented children performed, teens hosted book reading sessions, and panel discussions were moderated by young voices bursting with energy and insight.
​​​​​
​
Young Voices
1000+ young writers mentored
3 young authors won award and accolades
35 young authors published
Every Voice Matters
At Author In Me, we believe that every child has a story worth sharing. Whether a child is an enthusiastic storyteller or a reluctant writer, our mentorship sessions—led by renowned, published authors—help nurture their creativity and develop their writing skills.
Through our Young Voices Imprint, we proudly publish books written by children, celebrating their imagination and unique perspectives. So far, we’ve published 35 books by young authors, with our youngest writer being just seven years old. This initiative proves that when children are encouraged to dream big and express themselves, extraordinary things happen.
Now more than ever, fostering a love for storytelling is crucial. Recent research from the National Literacy Trust (2024)shows a worrying trend: only 34.6% of children and young people aged 8–18 enjoy reading in their free time—a significant decline from previous years. Writing for pleasure has also dropped, with many children viewing it as just another school task. This decline affects not only literacy but also creativity, critical thinking, and emotional well-being.
At Author In Me, we’ve seen firsthand how publishing children’s stories can be transformative. When young readers see books written by their peers, they feel inspired and motivated to read and write. Publishing their work builds confidence, fosters self-expression, and ignites a lifelong passion for storytelling.
Join us in empowering young voices and helping children discover the joy of reading and writing.
​