We’re excited to announce the very first competition at Where Ideas Grow, a writing blog for students at York St John University.
Submissions are now open and the theme is GROWTH.
Growth can be large or small, slow or fast: a moment of transformation and change. As spring approaches, we invite writers to interpret the theme freely and creatively.
Submission Guidelines:
- Theme is GROWTH (open to interpretation)
- Open to all students at York St John University and those in the Converge program
- Up to 1,500 words of prose OR 45 lines of poetry
- Email whereideasgrowblog@gmail.com with subject line of Growth Competition using your YSJ email or indication of being apart of the Converge program
- Submission Deadline: 23th February 2026
All works exploring growth through fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry are welcome.
Three winners will be announced at the end of February.
All three winners will receive:
- Inclusion in a published anthology featuring the winning entries
- One ticket to an event at the York Literature Festival (subject to availability)
In addition, thanks to Dead Poets Society:
- First place will receive a £25 book voucher
- Second place will receive a £15 book voucher
- Third place will receive £5 book voucher
If you would like a chance to be part of an anthology and enjoy one of the UK’s leading Literature Festivals, please email your submissions to whereideasgrowblog@gmail.com in accordance with the submission guidelines. We may ask to put your submission on the blog also, if agreed, we will go through our standard editorial process, however your submission will be judged in its original unedited state.
Follow us on Instagram (@whereideasgrowblog) for updates and announcements and keep an eye on the blog for posts during this period.
This creative writing competition is sponsored by the YSJ Dead Poets Society.