This year’s 100 Word Story Competition again demonstrated the talent amongst our young writers. Over 270 students from First Story partner schools wrote brilliant stories, taking on the challenge of writing a compelling narrative in only 100 words.
Judged by a panel from Vintage Books, the stories were an impressive mix of theme and subject. We are delighted to be able to share our winners and special mentions below.
Huge congratulations to all the young writers who took part. First, second and third place winners will receive a Vintage book bundle, notebook, certificate, and a framed copy of their story; their school will receive A3 posters of the story to display. All Highly Commended entrants will receive a book bundle and certificate.
It is always an absolute pleasure to judge the First Story Prize. Each year we are consistently blown away by the quality of the student’s writing and their creativity. This year’s entries were no exception – we travelled from space to early 00s New York, Vietnam to a thrilling rock concert. It was a tough decision to pick out our winners from such a strong cohort of entries and we want all entrants to know they did exceptionally well. We dare say you have many future authors in your midst!’
Charlotte Knight, Senior Editor at Vintage Classics, Chair of Judges
First Place
Ground by Tytus Blagianu, Eden Park High School, London
I hold everything up. Do you understand?
This is an honour – I hold everything up – but it’s quite stressful too. I hold everything up. Do you understand?
I hold it all: tables and chairs, legs and feet, washing machines, dishwashers. Everything.
I hold the walls and the roof, the upstairs and the downstairs. I carry the boats and the logs; I carry that which carries the boats and logs. I feel the force of every step as David Goggins runs along his road.
It hurts. The stamping. The dropping of barbells and plates and bombs. It hurts.
A lot.
We thought it was so inventive for Tytus to write from the perspective of a material we see every day, imbuing it with thought and feeling. Tytus writes with real empathy and asks readers to reconsider the world around them. Tytus is a very worthy winner of 1st place and we can’t wait to see what other things they write in the future.
Judges
Second Place
Fear by Stephan Jackson, John Spendluffe Technology College, Lincolnshire
Lately, something has been very wrong with my bed. I always wake with hundreds of scratches across my body. It wasn’t much of a problem at first, only bug bites, and they didn’t hurt. I bought a new bed, but that didn’t work. Whatever it was, it started eating parts of me, biting chunks of flesh from my belly. And yet it doesn’t hurt. Why? These last days, the bite marks have grown, and last night I glimpsed something move by my bed. I need it to stop, but if I stop feeding the thing…
I fear the consequences.
We knew from the moment we started reading Fear we had a future master of horror fiction at work! The way Stephan carefully ratcheted up the tension throughout the story was so clever – we were left with goosebumps by the end. We are so pleased to award Stephan 2nd place (and we’re secretly hoping Stephan might tell us what happens next)!
Judges
Third Place
Hues of Abandonment by Sahid Sesay, Co-op Academy Manchester
I was once a treasure, now I am treated like debt.
My palace had beautiful patterns decorating it… Now the only craftsmanship is the designs the rust makes on the framing.
I used to be throned at the highest point there was…
Now I am left to corrode.
I was worshipped with camera flashes daily…
Now the only illumination is when the dust glints in moon-rays.
I hear echoes of quills scratching and creativity flowing. It’s gone now, the only noise is the rats scurrying.
The paint smell drove me to insanity, did it do the same to my creator?
Sahid writes like a poet, with a wonderful sense of rhythm and lyricism and the ability to conjure a powerful image with just a few words. We are delighted to award 3rd place and can’t wait to see what they write next.
Judges
Highly Commended
Links of Loyalty by Leon Nguyen, Abbey Manor College, London
Linked up on his neck, I lie: a white, silver chain. I guard him throughout his life, through night and day, never leaving him. My birth place was Vietnam. I went on a fierce journey, in a petite red pouch tied with a golden rope, delivered to be worn by Leon. One sorrow in my life: I didn’t come by myself but alongside my brother bracelet who got lost in war, never to be seen again. I live in deep despair and will always remember him. But I will work extra hard with the passion in my links for Leon.
We were blown away by Leon’s ingenious perspective and the way that it revealed itself. We were also so impressed by Leon’s ability to transport the reader and take them on a journey in just a few lines. We felt quite emotional after reading it!
Judges
Untitled by Anonymous, Kingsbury High School, London
We’d like to thank everyone who entered, along with the teachers, writers and Vintage who supported the competition.
Young Writers Festival Highlights 2024
