RNIB World Book Day Creative Writing Competition for Children with Vision Impairment

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is inviting submissions from children with vision impairment for a piece of creative writing (prose or poetry in any form or style is welcome), centred around the theme of “Adventure”.

Taking the lead from RNIB’s motto, ‘See differently’, we want to celebrate different ways of seeing, beholding, and sensing an adventure that you’ve been on or one that you can imagine.

No previous experience of creative writing is required – we are keen to receive submissions from as wide a field as possible. Applicants from traditionally marginalised groups are particularly welcome.

Rules

The competition is open to any child or young person between the ages of 5-12 years with a vision impairment in the UK.
The competition runs from 9am on 1 January 2024, to midnight 18 February 2024.
Send in an original piece of writing up to 500 words in a Word document, MP3 audio or MP4 video, via email.  Or hard copy braille posted to RNIB, The Grimaldi Building, 154a Pentonville Road, London, N1 9JE.
The piece of writing must be based on the theme “Adventure”.
Submissions must be in English.
The use of AI, such as ChatGPT is not permitted.
One submission per author: this will be the first entry emailed to us.
Email all entries with the subject of “WBD competition” to [email protected]. Or if you are posting please address the entry to Lara Marshall.
The top three entries will be sent to award-winning author Michael Morpurgo for him to choose the final winner.
All entries submitted will be read and shortlisted by the RNIB library team.

Prizes

The winner will receive a signed set of ten of Michael Morpurgo’s books, in their preferred format.

Some suggestions to inspire you, but please feel free to come up with your own ideas too:

  • Travelling somewhere new on holiday.
  • Having a crazy dream.
  • Encountering a strange individual.
  • Finding an interesting artefact. Going on a quest to find mysterious treasure.
  • Finding yourself lost in a place you’ve never been before.
  • Having to save a friend in peril.

We can’t wait to read your submission and wish you the very best of luck!

More information can be found on the RNIB website – World Book Day page.