Emirates Literature Foundation launches a young writers competition

Calling all young creatives. Do you love to write stories?

The Emirates Literature Foundation is searching for the nation’s best young story writers with the launch of its annual creative writing competition for students.

The competition runs in Arabic and English, and is open to full-time students enrolled at school, college or universities in the GCC.

Winners will have their stories published in an anthology and will be honoured at a prize-giving event where they will receive a plaque, five copies of the anthology and the opportunity to attend an Emirates Literature Festival session.

The competition is divided into age-specific categories: 11 and under, 12-14, 15-17, and 18-25.

It is tremendously popular, with more than 3,600 stories being entered last year.

The theme for 2021 is “Here Comes the Sun,” and the deadline for submissions is Wednesday November 3.

Isobel Abulhoul, CEO and Trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation, said: “The theme can be seen as positive and uplifting, but we know from previous years that there is no end to the creativity with which young storytellers can interpret it.”

There are different word counts according to the age group: 11 and under can write a maximum of 500 words, 12-14 can write a maximum of 1,000 words, 15-25 can write a maximum of 1500 words; if you go over the word limit, your story will not be considered.

In order to compete you must also be enrolled full time in a school, college or university, and your story needs to be original and previously unpublished.

Winners will be notified by email or phone by mid-December.

Time to grab your notebook and get writing.

If you’re looking for a good working café to write your story, try our list of best working cafés in Abu Dhabi.

Or why not head straight to Parker’s in Dubai?

For more information about the writing competition click here.
Competition ends Wednesday November 3. www.elfdubai.org/en/home