Story Lines Writing Competition 2026

Published on 13 June 2026

Story Lines 2026

Let your imagination shine in our 2026 Story Lines Competition! If you're aged 5 to 16 and live, study, or play in the City of Kingston, we’d love to read your original story or poem. 

Key entry information

• Entries open: Monday 13 July 2026
• Entries close: Sunday 20 September 2026
• Winners announced: 4pm, Friday 20 November 2026
• Age categories: 5–7, 8–10, 11–13 and 14–16
• Word limit: Strictly 500 words
• Theme: Your choice!
• Entry fee: Free

Download entry form(PDF, 85KB)

Conditions of Entry

1. Each person may submit one original story or poem only.
2. All entries must be G-rated and suitable for a general audience.
3. Participants must be aged 5 to 16 and either live, go to school, or play sport/recreation in the City of Kingston.
4. Stories and poems must be the entrant’s own original work.
5. Entries over 500 words will not be accepted.
6. Illustrations may be submitted but will not be published with winning entries.
7. Winners will be announced on Friday 20 November 2026 via the Kingston Libraries website and social media (Facebook and Instagram).
8. Winning entries from each age group will be published on the Kingston Libraries website.
9. Selected submissions will be published in a printed collection.
10. Entries will not be returned, so please keep a copy.
11. The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.