The annual competition, which celebrates creative writing in all its forms, received 339 entries in 2023, with 181 students from 43 institutions in the region submitting their freshest, boldest work.

Sarah Power, Learning & Participation Programme Manager at NCW, said:

‘The 2023 Young Norfolk Writing Competition has yet again demonstrated the huge range of voices, ideas and creativity within the region’s young writers. The maturity of writing that the winning pieces display is truly impressive; from deeply moving responses, to significant world issues, to entertaining journeys in the digital world. Each piece was stimulating and thrilling to read.

‘Putting work forward for a public competition like this takes courage – and I would like to thank everyone who entered for giving all our judges the privilege of reading your work. Given everything that the world has thrown at young adults over the past three years, it is gratifying that the practice of writing is still so relevant, and I urge everyone to join with these young writers and seize every opportunity to write, and enjoy writing!’

Lucy Farrant, Director of YNA, said:

‘Creativity in all its forms is an essential part of our humanity and it is so important to nurture and support the county’s young people who share their writing talent with us in this annual competition. It is very fitting that in our tenth year of existing as an organisation we have been able to offer more awards to reflect the skills of all ages of entrants.  It is a joy that creative writing is as popular as ever and that the standard of entries remains excellent. Thank you so much to everyone involved – especially all those talented young writers.’

The winners of the Young Norfolk Writing Competition 2023 (in alphabetical order) are:

• Noah Allison, 18, Sheringham Sixth Form
• Benedict Braddock, 16, Uppingham School
• James Goldsmith, 15, Langley School
• Jack Lyon, 12, Langley School
• Nyasha Parr, 17
• Lena Pilatowska, 12, Notre Dame High School
• Amy Wiggin, 13, Wymondham High School

Amy Wiggin, one of the winners, said:

‘It still feels a bit surreal and like a dream to be a winner of this competition. I cannot begin to describe what all of this means to me.’

A further 13 young writers received commendation from the judges:

• Lily Baalham, 12, Old Buckenham High School
• Endymion Breeze, 18, Diss Sixth Form
• Emily Crossland, 14, Hobart High School
• Rachel Dyball, 17, Jane Austen College
• Iyana Etwi-Barimah, 12, Sprowston Community Academy
• Amelia Humphreys-Piercy, 16, City of Norwich School
• Harry Lie, 13, Notre Dame High School
• Yufei Liu, 16, Wymondham High Sixth Form
• Sophie Needham, 16, Home Educated
• Rowan Senior, 17, Thorpe St Andrew Sixth Form
• Sky Walsh, 15, Dereham Neatherd High School
• Izzie Watts, 13, Langley School

The competition focuses on engaging young people to become more involved with the arts while celebrating the writing talent in the region. Entries can take the form of stories, lyrics, narrative for games, graphic stories, poems, spoken word, scripts, podcasts, plays, articles, journalism, or essays.

Young Norfolk Writing Competition is a partnership between National Centre for Writing and Young Norfolk Arts with support from Arts Council England and Norfolk County Council.