Product Description

500 Words is open for entries! Make sure you submit your stories before 9pm, Friday 7 November.
Important: Once you submit your entry, it cannot be changed. If you no longer want your story to be considered, you’ll need to email us to request for your entry to be deleted. Please check your story carefully before submitting.

There are two age categories: 5-7 and 8-11 year-olds and spelling, punctuation and grammar are not marked – as has always been the case for 500 Words, it’s all about our writers’ brilliant creativity! There are prizes to be won – each winner will take home a bundle of books and the gold winners will also win 500 books for their school library.

50 finalists will be invited to a star-studded grand final at Windsor Castle in February 2026, which will once again be hosted by Her Majesty The Queen. If that’s not enough, each winner will also see their story be read aloud by a superstar celebrity on TV, which will be shown as part of a special 500 Words programme with The One Show in early March.