The Solstice Nature Prize is a national, annual writing competition for young writers run by Writing East Midlands.
The Prize invites young people to take a closer look at the natural world, explore their relationship with it, or examine the challenges it faces, and write short stories, poems, and thought-provoking blogs in response.
In 2026, we’re looking for entries about any aspect of nature and offering prizes for winners in four age groups: 7-11, 12-14, 15-17 and 18-25 years. Entries must be 500 words (for short stories and blogs) or 40 lines (for poems).
The Prizes
First-place winners in each age category will receive £100 and have their work published in the 2025 Solstice Anthology.
Five Highly Commended runners up per age category will receive goody bags and also have their work published in the online anthology.
There are also regional prizes for the best pieces in each age group for young writers living in the East Midlands.
The competition is open to UK residents (including all pupils at school in the UK).
Click here for the full entry requirements for this year’s competition, for last year’s anthology and for a Teacher’s Pack with prompts and exercises to use in your lessons.
Deadline: 10 October 2026