Every child has a story to tell
Young writers send us an original story in Arabic or English. The winning stories are published in a beautifully illustrated bilingual book.
Who can enter?
Entries are judged within your own age group. The youngest writers are never up against the oldest. One entry per child, in the language you love to write in. Each entry can be up to 300, 800 or 1,500 words depending on the age category.
Up to 300 words. A grown-up may type your words for you.
Up to 800 words. Real or imagined, funny or fearless. Any story goes.
Up to 1,500 words. Make us laugh, gasp, or think.
What the judges are looking for
Your own words
The story must be entirely your original work. Helpers may type, but the words are yours, no AI is to be used.
Any subject at all
Set it in your neighbourhood or on the far side of the moon.
Imagination over spelling
A panel of authors, illustrators and booksellers reads every entry, looking for a story told in your own voice.
Winners will be published in a book
Winning and highly commended stories are published in an illustrated bilingual anthology. Every published writer will be invited to join us for an awards afternoon at Torba Market, Education City.
Mark the calendar
Send us your story
Type your story into the form below, or attach as a file or photo of the handwritten page. Entries are accepted online only. We will email a confirmation straight away.
Teachers
You can enter your whole class. Submit each pupil's story through the form above, one entry per child, using the school's email address. There is no limit on how many entries a school sends.
It takes a village to make a book
The competition is run by Torba Market, with friends who care as much about young writers as we do: reading and judging the entries, printing the anthology and handing out the prizes.
Want to sponsor a print run or a school's entries? Talk to us at hello@torba.co.