Mansfield: Bright future for young wordsmiths

Category winners Jessica Tingle, Chloe Timmons and Jacob Evans (pictured front row from left to right) answered questions about how they get their inspiration, and the audience heard extracts from their stories.

The contest was open to students from Mansfield schools and Vision West Nottinghamshire College and saw young writers create a short fiction based story of 500 words or less.

The competition was created in partnership with Mansfield 2020, after board member Kath Jephson put the idea forward. She said: “The stories have just been fantastic and I’ve been really impressed.

“Hopefully this is something we can grow going forward and working with the Mansfield Learning Partnership we can find new ways to encourage local creative talent.”

Berni Dickinson, director of the Mansfield Learning Partnership, said: “These youngsters are really inspiring, and it’s great to see young people excited about writing.”

The stories have been printed in a book by local print company Linney Group and contains all of the entries to this year’s competition. To order a copy contact [email protected]. The Mansfield Learning Partnership is requesting a donation of £1 per book.

Also pictured are Berni Dickinson (Mansfield Learning Partnership) Sandra Cowley (Vision Apprentices) Caroline Cox and Irvin Robinson (Mansfield 2020 Ltd) Kath Jephson (Jephson Shop Fitters) and Katie Cooper (Mansfield Learning Partnership).