National Short Story Week aims to get more people writing, reading and listening to short stories. It’s a chance to find out about good stories to read and listen to and, if you are a budding writer, there’s also a brilliant opportunity to enter a competition with some fantastic prizes.

Get involved

If you’re a budding writer in year 7 or 8, take advantage of an amazing opportunity and enter the National Short Story Week writing competition. Or you could see if your English teacher or school librarian could run a short story competition for students in your school or class. Short stories are perfect for when you don’t feel like reading a full-on novel. You can read a complete short story on a journey, in bed or even in your lunch break. A good short story has all the adventure, excitement and magic of a novel – it just tells the story in fewer words. Ask your school or local library if they have any short story collections in books or on CD. Or you could call in at your local bookshop and see what they have to offer.

Discover some great short stories

You can read some of the best short stories ever written, for free, on the internet. The Project Gutenberg website holds thousands of classic works to download. If you’re not sure where to start, search for The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen or The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde. The National Short Story Week website also has a recommended reading list, which includes short story collections from Michael Morpurgo, Roald Dahl and Chris Priestley. Whether you like ghost stories, tales with a twist or love stories, you’re sure to find something for you.

Be a short story writer

Could you be an award-winning writer? To celebrate this year’s National Short Story Week, the organisers are running a short story competition for year 7 and 8 students. Students who enter must write a short story of between 900 and 1,000 words with the title The Choice. There are some brilliant prizes, including the winning story being turned into a podcast and read by a professional actor. The best stories will also be turned into a free e-book. The short-list judges are Chris Priestley and Aidan Chambers. To take part, students must ask their school library to register for the competition.

Get tips from bestselling writers

Looking for ideas and inspiration for writing your own story? You can download a free podcast and listen to bestselling writers giving their advice. Hear Joe Craig (Jimmy Coates series, Lifters), Jon Mayhew (Mortlock), Tamsyn Murray (My So-Called Haunting) and Chris Priestley (Tales of Terror series) giving top tips to make your story as good as it can be. Joe Craig says: “If you want to write a 1,000 word short story then read as many short stories as you can. See what you like and what works and what doesn’t.” Tamsyn Murray adds: “Make sure you start your story in the right place. Don’t start with the main character waking up in the morning and going downstairs and having their breakfast. Start where the action happens.” For more suggestions, check out the podcast. Good luck!

Find out more

The National Short Story Week competition www.nationalshortstoryweek.org.uk/student- comp.htm

Writing tips podcast www.nationalshortstoryweek.org.uk/tips.htm 

Writing tips from Jimmy Coates writer Joe Craig www.joecraig.co.uk 

Thousands of free stories www.gutenberg.org