Competition

'Telling My Story' competition

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to write a story and see it published so that everyone can read it? Well this is your chance to find out.

Jacqueline Wilson, the author of the famous Tracy Beaker books has set the scene for you below - so just carry on where she has left off and get writing!

"Hi there! It's me, Tracy Beaker.

Remember the name. I bet you I'm really really famous one day. I'm going to be an amazing best-selling celebrity author. My books will be number one smash-hits with titles like Three Cheers for Tracy Beaker and Tracey Beaker Comes Out tops. I'm also quite likely to be an incredible actress, seeing as my mum is a very famous American movie star. She is, truly. I know Justine Littlewood laughs scornfully whenever I so much as mention my Mum, but as if I care what Justine-Total-Rubbish-Littlewood thinks.

I wish Justine wasn't Louise's best friend now. Louise was always my best friend until Justine stuck her big nose in. But hey, maybe I'm going to get a brand new best friend now. Someone new has come to live in the Dumping Ground. Someone quite extraordinary. Let me tell you ..." ... now it's your turn to carry on.

Who can enter?

This competition is open to anyone under 13 who is fostered or is the son, daughter or grandchild of foster carers. There are two age groups: under 8s and 8 to 12 years.

Who'll judge the stories?

Jacqueline Wilson herself, along with a panel of judges from the Fostering Network.

What can I win?

The five finalists in each age group will be invited to London to meet Jacqueline and the winning story for each age-group will also be published in Foster Care magazine.

The prizes in each age group are as follows:

• First prize is a digital camera and a range of children's books.
• Second prize is a range of children's books.
• The three runners up in each age group will receive a £25 book voucher.

The books have been generously donated by Andersen Press and Random House Children's Books.

Some hints for writing your story

Before you start to write your story think about what kind of friend Tracy would think was ‘extraordinary’? Then use your imagination to tell your very own story about Tracy’s new friend.

We are looking for stories that are interesting, which make us want to read on. The type of stories that make us laugh, cry or sit up in surprise. We’d like if very much if you try to spell and use punctuation properly, but, most important of all, we want to be entertained by your story.

A good story needs a start, a middle and an end. Jacqueline Wilson has already written the start, so your job is to think about what happens after that. It sometimes helps to think about how you want the story to finish and then think about the things that need to happen in the middle, so the story can get there.

If you are using a computer you can use the word count function to check the number of words you have written.

How to enter

• All entries must be received by midday on 15 February 2008.
• You need to be under 13 years old on the closing date of the competition (15 February 2008).
• Please type your entries or ask someone to type it up for you. If you really can’t do this you can still enter, but please write the story very neatly in your best handwriting. If we can’t read your story you won’t have a chance to win – which would be a real shame.
• For under 8s there is a word limit of 500 words and for 8s -12s the limit is 1000 words. Please write your name and age on the top of your story.
• Please staple or paper clip another piece of paper to your story. On this piece of paper tell us your name, your address and your telephone number. You also need to tell us the name and address of a person you live with and who they are (for example, your guardian, foster carer or parent), so we can contact them in case we can’t get hold of you. Please also tell us if you are fostered or the son, daughter or grandchild of a foster carer.
• Also on this piece of paper you need to write your age and the date of your birth.
• This is an example of the information you need to write on this piece of paper - Kyle Smith, 5 Green Hill, Smiley Town, Big County, B12 Y1P, phone: 07999 666000, age 8, born 6 May 1999. My foster carer is Lucy Lilac, 5 Green Hill, Smiley Town, Big County, B12 Y1P, her phone number is 0200 00101. I am fostered.
• No entries can be returned so make sure you take a copy of your story before you send it to us.
• Send your story to Young People's Project, the Fostering Network, 87 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8HA.
• Winners will be notified by 3 March 2008.

Want to know more about 'Telling My Story'?

If you would like full details of the competition posted to you, ring Piriya Jeganathan on 020 7620 8448 or email piriya.jeganathan@fostering.net.

Contact development worker Judy Walsh on judy.walsh@fostering.net or call 020 7620 6412.