RB Writes – the creative writing competition for young people returns for the 5th fantastical year.

The 2022 round opens Thursday 13th October and young writers have until 30th November to submit their story.

Once again, the borough’s young people are asked to pick up their pens or fire up a laptop and write a 1,000 word story all about where they live, using local landmarks and features as inspiration. Click here for further information about how to enter.

Back in 2017, my idea was simply to inspire kids to write with abandonment and enjoyment by writing their story about where they live.

Stories could be any genre so no limits there. To date we have received horror, fantasy, the magical and the everyday. There isn’t a corner of the area that lies unexamined creatively speaking .

Local schools, community groups, businesses, libraries and writers have willingly gave their support and more, without this it would have withered on the vine.

James Cannon from BBC Surrey’s Breakfast Show described it as being:

“Surrey’s Best Writing Competition.”

And to ensure strict neutrality, the winning entries are decided by a panel of independent judges.

What’s not to love? We are probably the only borough in the land with a wealth of stories from its young people.

Magic.

Reigate and Banstead Writes is the brainchild of Kay Hymas. It launched in 2017 as a stand alone creative writing initiative. Since then, it has become a lifestyle blog, featuring reviews on the local area and further afield.

Please contact Kay Hymas at Reigateandbansteadwrites@gmail.com for further information.