The Start Your Story Competition
Do you have the opening of a story that will captivate readers from the very first line? Enter the Start Your Story Competition for the chance to win FREE entry onto our creative writing course — a comprehensive programme that includes personalised feedback on 13 pieces of your writing. You will also receive all course materials for life.
The winning entry will also be featured on the Henri Ken Blogs homepage, giving your work the spotlight it deserves.
Entry to this competition is FREE.
How to Enter
Submit either:
-
The first page of your novel, novella, or short story, or
-
The first 300 words, whichever comes first.
All entries must be submitted via the competition entry form below.
Formatting & Entry Guidelines
To ensure a fair and professional judging process, all entries must follow these formatting guidelines:
-
Font: Times New Roman
-
Size: 12 pt
-
Spacing: Double spaced
-
Include at the top of your document:
-
Your full name
-
The title of your novel, novella, or short story
-
Content guidelines:
-
Your work must be your own original writing and not generated by AI. All submissions will be checked for plagiarism.
-
One entry per person.
Your Work is Safe
We take your creative work seriously. All submissions are treated with the strictest confidence. Your entry will never be shared publicly without your explicit permission, except for shortlisted entries and the winning piece, which will appear on the Henri Ken Blogs website as part of the competition.
Key Dates
-
Submission deadline: 24 November 2025
-
Shortlist announced: 26 November 2025
-
Public voting: 26 November – 10 December 2025
-
Winner revealed: 10 December 2025
Judged by Henri Ken, three of the most compelling, original, and well-crafted entries will be shortlisted by our judges. The shortlist will then be published on the Henri Ken Blogs website, where the public can vote for their favourite. The entry with the most votes will win.
Learn More About the Prize
Want to know exactly what you’ll win? Explore the full course details here:
Best of luck! Shortlisted entries will be announced on the 26th of November!