The 2025 Henrietta Branford Writing Competition, the annual competition for young people which runs in conjunction with the Branford Boase Award, is now open.
The competition aims to find and encourage writers of the future, something Henrietta was always keen to do.
Anyone under the age of 19 can enter. Full entry instructions, terms & conditions available here.
This year’s theme for the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition is inspired by the book that won the Branford Boase Award in 2024, Steady For This by Nathanael Lessore. Nathanael’s book is bright, funny, joyful and fresh; it makes readers laugh out loud.
Make ‘em laugh!
What the judges of the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition are looking for this year are pieces of writing that will put smiles on their faces, even better, make them chuckle or laugh out loud!
You may choose whatever you want to write from the following:
The judges are looking for writing that will amuse them and hold their attention, so ask yourself, how can I grab a judge’s attention? How will I make them smile or laugh? Read on for tips from Nathanael Lessore.
Read the extract below, describing what happens when central character Shaun gets stuck in a pushchair…
Nathanael Lessore says, “Shaun is loosely based on myself. Lots and lots of the silly things he says and does are based on real life events that actually happened to me. The scene where he gets stuck in a pushchair, the cinema scene with the yogurt, anything that seems too silly to have happened probably did happen.
My top writing tip is: listen. If I find something funny, I immediately make note of it. Try that, enjoy writing and good luck in the competition!”
The winners will receive signed copies of each of the books shortlisted for the 2025 Branford Boase Award.
Entries for the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition close at 9am (GMT), Friday 30th May 2025.
Full entry instructions, terms & conditions available here.
One of the most prestigious of UK children’s book prizes, the Branford Boase Award recognises a debut children’s author and their editors. It was set up in memory of children’s writer Henrietta Branford and her editor, Wendy Boase, Editorial Director of Walker Books. They both died of cancer in 1999.
Henrietta Branford Writing Competition 2025 Judge
Prue Goodwin is a freelance lecturer in literacy and children’s books. She taught in primary and middle schools for over twenty years before becoming Director of INSET for the Reading Centre at the University of Reading. She is retired now but occasionally speaks at conferences, offers advice to publishers, and volunteers in libraries and schools.
Andrea Reece
30 Winton Avenue, London, N11 2AT
Tel: 0208 889 1292
Mob: 07807 893369
Email: branford.boase@gmail.com
Andrea Reece
Tel: 07807 893369 | Email: branford.boase@gmail.com