D.H. Lawrence Children’s Writing Competition 2026

About

Thursday 5 March - Sunday 17 May 2026
Online entry
Children up to age 16

Following a record year for entries in 2025, the D.H. Lawrence Children’s Prize: Writing Competition returns launching on Thursday 5 March for World Book Day 2026, with this year’s theme celebrating ‘Friendship’.

Lawrence had many great friendships throughout his life with people local to Eastwood like Jessie Chambers and her family, those he met on his travels around Italy and New Mexico, and fellow authors such as Aldous Huxley, E.M. Forster, and Catherine Carswell. These relationships played a crucial role in Lawrence’s life and helped to shape the person he was.

Entrants can submit a short story or poem, no longer than 500 words on the theme of ‘Friendship’ to be in with a chance of winning a prize across three age categories:

• Aged 4-7
• Aged 8-11
• Aged 12-16

First prize in each category will win a Kindle, with runner-up and highly commended prizes of up to £50 in National Book Tokens. There will also be a special ‘Best of Broxtowe’ prize in each age category.

Successful entrants will be invited to an awards ceremony at the D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum on Victoria Street, Eastwood. The first prize in each category will have their work entered into a digital exhibition.

Entries close on Sunday 17 May and can be made online or by postal entry. Winners will be notified by Friday 5 June and invited to the award ceremony on 27 June.

More details and terms and conditions can be found on their website.