Young writers’ award shortlist revealed

An all-female shortlist has been announced for the 2018 BBC Young Writers’ Award.

Five teenagers have produced a short story under 1,000 words and stand a chance of winning the annual award.

Now in its fourth year, the competition is open to 14 to 18-year-olds, and the work of five young women has been selected from 962 entries.

BBC Radio 1’s Life Hacks show announced the shortlisted writers and the winner will be revealed at a Cambridge University ceremony.

William Sutcliffe, author and judge of the competition, said: “The stories we have chosen reflect the talent and skill of the entrants and are a testament to the

“Atestamentto the imagination and talent of teenagers”

imagination and talent of teenagers who care about fiction.”

The winner of the award will have their story available on the Radio 1 website and have a mentoring session with an author in order to hone their writing skills.

Davina Bacon, 17, from Cambridgeshire, has been shortlisted for Under A Deep Blue Sky, the story of an elephant being killed by a poacher.

Reyah Martin, 18, from Glasgow, submitted Footprints In The Far Field, which tells the story of a mother losing her child.

Unspoken, by 16-yearold Lottie Mills, from Hertfordshire, explores teenage mental health.

Jane Mitchell, 16, from Dorset, has been shortlisted for Firsts, which follows the efforts of a mother to escape the country of her birth.

Oh Sister, Invisible by 16-year-old Tabitha Rubens, from Islington, explores the struggles of a teenager witnessing the effects of anorexia.