About the Young Writers' Competition 

2025 marks the sixteenth year of the Young Writers' Competition. 

Open to students from Kindergarten to Year 12 who live or go to school on the Northern Beaches. The competition invites students to write an original work of creative writing using a special hero word. This year's hero word is 'Change'. 

Entries are judged according to characterisation, plot, originality, and use of language and arranged into six different age group categories.

Four finalists are chosen from each age category, who will receive a prize and have their stories published in an eBook that will be added to our Library collection. Winners will be announced at a special presentation event with Northern Beaches Council Mayor Sue Heins and our author judges. 

How to enter

Entry booklets for the 2025 Young Writers' Competition will be available at all library locations from 1 April. 

Submissions will be open from 1 April until 13 May. To submit your entry online, please visit this webpage again after the opening date, or drop into any library location.  

For further enquiries, please contact writers.comp@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au