Who can enter?

Anybody aged 11 to 19, resident in the United Kingdom.
The Young Walter Scott Prize is awarded to winners of the 11 to 15-year-old category and the 16 to 19-year-old category.

What can I write about?

Anything you believe will interest your reader. This is a prize for historical fiction, so set your story in a time before you were born, recognisably different from today.

How many words?

Your story should be between 800 and 1200 words.

What’s the deadline?

Your entry needs to reach us by 31st October of the relevant year.

Where shall I send it?

Young Walter Scott Prize, Bowhill House, Selkirk, Scottish Borders TD7 5ET

Can I send an electronic copy?

No, we only accept entries sent by post.

What could I win?

Winners receive £500, and an invitation to visit the Borders Book Festival and Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott himself.
The prize-winning stories will be included in the annual YWSP Anthology.

DOWNLOAD the entry form (including Ts & Cs) :

Got further questions or queries?

Take a look at our FAQs to see if you can find the answer to your question there. If you’re wondering about something, others will be, too!