Objective

Write an imaginary
300 word story inspired
by Detectives or Spies

We are sending you to lead an investigation or else on a top-secret mission! The choice is yours. Your challenge is to write your own original episode featuring either spies OR detectives in just 300 words.

What crime, mystery, or crisis will be the focus of the story? Where will the story be set and what will happen? Who will be the hero or the evil villain? Who might be the suspects and what clues will be discovered along the way? Or what might be at stake for your spy or spies? Use tension, mystery and suspense to craft your story to a memorable climax.

The categories

Primary

Years 3/4/5/6

Intermediate

Years 7/8/9

Senior

Years 10 plus

Special Educational Needs (SEND)

Primary & secondary

The Prizes

First prize

Plus the 2022 trophy, a certificate, a signed book, an original illustration and your story published on the website.

For Primary, Intermediate and Secondary categories

Second prize

Plus a certificate, a signed book, an original illustration and your story published on the website.

For Primary, Intermediate and Secondary categories

Third prize

Plus a certificate, a signed book, an original illustration and your story published on the website.

For Primary, Intermediate and Secondary categories

For Primary, Intermediate and Secondary categories

Special Educational Needs Prizes (SEND)

Plus a certificate, a signed book, an original illustration and your story published on the website.

For Primary and Secondary categories

Highly Commended Prizes

Plus a certificate and your story published on the website.

Up to 5 highly commended prizes will be available in the primary, intermediate and senior categories and 2 highly commended prizes will be available in the special educational needs section.

The judges

1. 

   Anthony Horowitz

   Anthony Horowitz is one of the most prolific and successful writers in the UK – and is unique for working across so many media - writing books, television, films, plays and journalism. He has written over 50 books including the best-selling teen spy series Alex Rider, which has sold over 21 million copies worldwide, and has now been adapted into a hugely successful television series. His other books for children include The Power of Five and seven books in The Diamond Brothers series with a new adventure, Where Seagulls Dare, being published in 2022. Anthony is also an acclaimed writer for adults. His latest crime novel, A Line to Kill is set in Alderney. In 2014, he was awarded an OBE for his services to literature.

2. 

   Michael Rosen

   Michael Rosen is a much-loved children’s author and poet who has written over 140 books, including stories, jokes and poetry for all ages, including Michael Rosen’s Book of Nonsense, Little Rabbit Foo Foo and, of course, the unforgettable classic We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. He served as Children’s Laureate from 2007 to 2009 and is a broadcaster and political columnist. He is Professor of Children’s Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London and among his most recent work he has written a moving children’s book entitled Sticky Mc Stickstick, inspired by his experience of Long Covid.

3. 

   Elly Griffiths

   Elly Griffiths is best known for her popular Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries series of crime novels and has won a Crime Writers’ Association Dagger for her work. She is also the author of the popular series The Brighton Mysteries which began with The Zig Zag Girl. The 14th novel in her acclaimed and bestselling Dr Ruth Galloway Mystery series is The Locked Room due to be published in Feb 2022. Look out for the new spine-tingling tale in the A Girl called Justice series. Justice Jones, the super-smart, super-sleuth, returns in late May with a 4th adventure, The Spy at the Window. As part of the 2022 Festival, Elly will be talking to schools in Guernsey about this latest and most exciting book.

4. 

   Huw Lewis-Jones

   Huw Lewis-Jones, who went to school in Guernsey, is the author of many books including the bestselling The Writer’s Map and Swallowed by a Whale: How to Survive the Writing Life, which included secrets and insights into the writing lives of sixty accomplished authors. He is a professor of Environment and Culture at Falmouth University as well as Expedition Leader of voyages to the North Pole. He now creates books for children too, with his Bad Apple and Blue Badger series, and there’s more to come this year. Huw is a Guest Curator of the Guernsey Literary Festival.

Filter judges this year include Rachel Wyatt and Adam Bayfield from the Guille-Alles Library, local author Nick Le Messurier and Catriona Stares, the founder of the Guernsey Literary Festival.