Join the Summer 2026 Writing Challenge!
Young Writers Collective members have voted for their favourite theme ideas and the result was tied! So this edition will have a double-theme:
Gothic/Horror or Who Am I?
Submit your writing for publication in our next digital anthology. All those featured in the anthology will be sent a printed copy too! You are welcome to submit work for either one or both of these themes - whatever inspires you!
Deadline for submissions: Monday 6th July 2026
Coming up in this edition…
Across May, June and July 2026 there will be different ways for you to engage with these themes, get inspired and develop your writing
In-person workshop
Thursday 25th June - 5.00-6.30pm
Central Brighton (location TBC)
Led by Roy McFarlane
Save The Date!
More info coming soon…
Join Young Writers Collective to receive priority booking for this event
Digital Masterclass
Exclusive access for YWC members!
We’ll be sharing a video masterclass from a guest writer, created exclusively for Young Writers Collective.
This masterclass will include tips, techniques and inspiration based on the skills and topics you’ve told us you’re interested in!
Join Young Writers Collective to access exclusive content
Guest Editorials & Inspiration
By Young Writers Collective Members
Grace Overton and Blake Singleton have written brilliant guest editorials for this edition - read their inspiring introductions to the ‘Gothic/Horror’ and ‘Who Am I?’ themes below.
Throughout this edition we’ll be adding to our Exclusive Members Content area, so keep checking back!
Join Young Writers Collective to receive the password (or email us if you’ve forgotten it!)
Introduction to the theme
Gothic/Horror
By Grace Overton - Young Writers Collective member
In my opinion, Gothic/horror themes in writing are so unique and enrapture me every time.
You could approach it with a fast-paced and swiftly moving action or take it slow and build suspense; either one able to elicit completely different emotions under the same theme. You could write about the supernatural or describe a scene, leaving words unspoken or you could write about seemingly nothing and hide so much meaning and mystery that any reader could find more every time.
There’s nothing that blows my mind more than when a simple Gothic/horror story tells me something that can tell me everything about an author’s message to us all. I have seen so many use this genre impeccably; notably Darren Shan and his series, Demonata, which explores human nature and existential themes, to anything by George Orwell who so cleverly threads political arguments and humanitarian struggles inconceivably in his novels. Books from Frankenstein to The Shining tell a second story underneath it all and I believe anyone who has something to say can use this theme expertly to tell the reader anything (while being slightly unsettling, of course)
Maybe something here will catch your eye and ask you to think twice!
Introduction to the theme
Who Am I?
By Blake Singleton - Young Writers Collective member
IHello I am Blake Singleton. I'm twelve years old, I’d like to discuss this exciting theme “Who am I?”
This is a really interesting subject because you can take this in a lot of directions, as the “I” could be anything or anyone. It could be about a cloud's point of view and looking at life below. Or a painting that lives a life of fame, that is joyful, depressing or confusing. Or any object that might feel human emotions. Your writing can be about you, your family, your family's history or even an invented history.
“Who am I?” could by a mystery, where the character has to remember who they are before it's too late. Your story might need the reader to help figure it out. It’s really up to you.
Anyways I'm really excited to write my story and also see yours, good luck young writers!
How to join the challenge
Become a member of the Young Writers Collective
If you aren’t already a member you’ll need to join in order to submit work for our publications, but the good news is it’s free to join!
Anyone who is aged 11-18 and lives, works or goes to school/college in Sussex can become a member.
All the information about the collective can be found here along with the form to sign up for membership. If you have any questions please email Nikki or Sally at ywc@littlegreenpig.org.uk
Be creatively inspired by the themes: ‘Gothic/Horror’ or ‘Who Am I?’
We love to publish all different kinds of work, so whatever your favourite form or writing or genre we want to read it! From poetry to essays, comics, fiction, scripts and more - maybe you like to delve deep into your emotions, or maybe you’re a budding comedian? As long as your writing is creatively inspired by one (or both) of our themes of ‘Gothic/Horror’ or ‘Who Am I?’ then please send it to us for inclusion in the publication.
Across June and July we’ll be adding content to our Exclusive Members area of the website (join YWC to get the password). This will include ideas and inspiration shared by Young Writers Collective members. You might also like to check out the Inspiration section of this website to get inspiration from professional writers on skills such as creating characters, describing locations, building tension and exploring identity.
There will also be an in-person workshop you can come along to in June, and an exclusive digital masterclass from a guest writer. Make sure you’re a member of the Young Writers Collective to receive updates about these and priority access to book your free place for the workshop. More details coming soon…
Follow the submission guidelines
We don’t have lots of rules as we believe in using your imagination and expressing yourself freely. We try to publish all the work that’s sent to us. However, there are a few things to remember if you’d like your work to be included in the publication:
All work must be your own original creation and related to the themes of ‘Gothic/Horror’ or ‘Who Am I?’
You may submit up to three pieces of work. It can be prose/poetry/non-fiction/dialogue/scriptwriting/a letter- it’s up to you!
You can include images (illustrations, photos etc as long as you own the copyright for these) but we won’t be able to include other forms of media (eg. video, audio) in this anthology.
Please try to keep your piece under 500 words. If you share anything longer than 500 words we may only be able to publish an extract.
Please try to avoid using offensive language or content that could be inappropriate for readers aged 11-18, otherwise we may need to edit your work before publishing it.
You should not use AI to create your writing. We want the writing to be your own original ideas and creation.
Please upload your work as a document or image file eg. .pdf .docx .jpg .png
If you would like support with uploading or formatting your work please email us at ywc@littlegreenpig.org.uk
Submit your work by XXXXXXX
The deadline to send us your work is XXXXXX 2026. We expect to publish the digital anthology by the end of July 2026, and we’ll send a printed copy to all those featured. We will email all members of the Young Writers Collective to remind you when it’s getting close to the deadline so you don’t miss out on this opportunity!
Submission Form
Please use this form to submit your work for the Summer 2026 Writing Challenge:
‘Gothic/Horror’ or ‘Who Am I?’