WINNERS OF THE IMAGINARY JOURNEYS 2009 ‘FABULOUS FABLES’ STORY COMPETITION FOR WRITERS UNDER 12.

Some super stories were entered in this year’s competition – a lot more than a few. It has been a real pleasure to read them all, even though it made the judging more difficult than ever.

Young writers were given plenty of freedom in how they were to interpret the idea of a fable. We duly received an extraordinary variety of imaginative and thoughtful tales, with a very wide range of themes and styles. I’m afraid we still  had to rule a few very good ones out of the running for top prizes because they were not fables, even in our very broad definition.  The overall standard was  very high – which is perhaps what you might expect, since quite a lot of the children who enter this competition attend special groups for gifted and talented writers, such as the Able Writers workshops run by the National Education Trust. Hence if you are not one of the prize winners this year, it may well be that your story would have won elsewhere. Anyway, don’t forget to try again next year if you will still be under 12 when you enter -  the theme will be Tall Tales & Likely Legends and details will be posted on this site in the autumn.

Thanks are due to the many teachers and parents who helped children to enter. Ann Edwards C of E Primary School in South Cerney, Gloucestershire and Howard Primary School in Croydon are well worthy of mention as two schools from which we received an unusually large number of lively entries this year.

Our congratulations are due to all who entered, helping to set such a high standard - I’d love to be able to give you all prizes. The list of runners-up in the competition follows the stories below and includes some very good tales. I’ll confess that we struggled to separate the top Fabulous Fables. Our finalists each approached the fable form in a different way. Apologies for some delay in getting them up here on the site this year - we have had one or two unexpected difficulties. Anyway here are their excellent stories - I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading them.

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Rob Parkinson 8th October, 2009


FIRST PRIZE WINNER £ 50 plus CD of choice : Ella Richards
for her story 'A story of Importance'
Ella was in Year 6 at St Mary’s RC Primary School in Gosport when she wrote her story.

I was 10 when I first started writing my story but I am 11 now. I live in a town called Gosport with my Mum, my Dad, my 7 year-old sister Millie and my pet rabbit Dilly.

I was very excited when I found out this years competition was fables. I knew exactly what moral I was going to use – a saying my mum has always told me: it’s nice to be important but its more important to be nice!

As well as writing and reading in my spare time I have two hobbies, Dancing and Piano. I cannot say that my story was inspired by one particular book or author but I do have a favourite author- J.k Rowling. I love her life story and my favourite book of the Harry Potter series is “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”. I am delighted to win this competition as I feel it’s one step closer to my dream job: a famous author.

Judge's comments:

Ella’s beautifully paced story uses the ‘tale-within-a-tale’ technique very skillfully and engagingly. The school events at the start of the story are shrewdly observed and well described, drawing readers into identifying with the heroine and her disappointment. Dialogue throughout is very well handled, not only interesting but also an important part of the story, whilst the homely fable told by the grandmother delivers a touching and useful moral. Overall it is an extremely well balanced and satisfying piece of writing from a gifted young writer.

  • Ella was a runner-up in last year’s competition with a quite different story, showing her imaginative versatility – and her persistence. We wish her much luck with her writing in future and look forward to seeing more of her exciting work.
Read or download Ella's winning story, 'A story of Importance'


SECOND PRIZE WINNER £ 25 plus CD of choice : Sadiya Quazi
for her story ‘Goat, Hare & Antelope’
Sadiya was in Year 6 at Sheredes Primary School, Hoddesdon, Herts when she wrote her story and was last year’s first prize winner.

I wrote Goat, Hare and Antelope when I was ten years old. This year, I found I was less comfortable writing in the fable form as I enjoy writing fantasy or adventure stories much more. However I still took pleasure in writing my story and am very pleased to have won the second prize.

One of my favourite types of stories is horror stories. Reading in a dim room with a lamp nearby and a book in hand can almost feel as though you are in your own little world. I love the way writers give a false sense of security and before you know it, something dreadful starts to happen!

As well as writing, I love to draw, paint, create… anything to do with art, you name it! I like to draw things off the top of my head or copying other pictures and instead of buying a card for someone’s birthday or a special event, I make one! Also, we grow vegetables in our back garden. Planting a seed and watching it grow bigger each day is like magic, just like when you put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) and let the words flow! This year’s competition was great fun. I can’t wait to write one for next year!

Judge's comments:

Sadiya came close to repeating her performance as first prizewinner in last year’s competition with this extraordinary animal fable. Quite a few other young writers chose to explore the theme of rivalry and races between animals, but none quite so successfully. The plot is cleverly conceived and original, managing to develop the separate courses of the three animals each in exciting ways, yet bringing them together perfectly in the convincing and vividly described final stages. We felt that there was a danger of what is called ‘over-writing’ at a few points – perhaps a few too many adjectives and slightly old-fashioned, ‘bookish’ phrases. However Sadiya is clearly an exceptionally talented and versatile writer, who is constantly learning more about the skills of the writer.

Read or download Sadiya’s second prize winning story, ‘Goat, Hare & Antelope’

THIRD PRIZE WINNER £ 15 plus CD of choice : Callum Ainsworth
for his story ‘Worry Wart’
Callum was in Year 5 at Coxheath Primary School near Maidstone, Kent when he wrote his story..

  My name is Callum! I’m 10 years of age and live in Coxheath, Park Way. I like playing with my friends at coxheath primary school and especially one of my friends, Liam who lives down my road. I’ve a great interest in music as I play the trumpet and piano. I also like writing because when you’re worried about something you can write it down and get it out of your system. The thing that inspired me for my story ‘Worry Wart’ was me, because I know I worry a lot but I tried to pull myself together and then found out there was nothing to worry about in the first place!
 

Judge's comments:

Callum’s story is a surprising, dramatic and very moving interpretation of the fable theme. His first person story is quite short but still manages to capture all the nervous tension of the build up to a performance that is not just a performance, but a very important step for the hero in letting everyone know who he is. It’s a story that is a lesson in saying a lot with not a lot of words and an excellent piece of work from another talented young writer

. Read or download Callum’s third prize winning story, ‘Worry Wart’


Special prize for younger writers:   £10
Exceptional writing from a writer under 8 years old

KS1:  Isaac Hilsley for his story ‘Trouble at Grasshopper Farm’.
Isaac was in Year 2  at Virgo Fidelis Prep School in South East London when he wrote his story.

I am 7 years old and I go to Virgo Fidelis Prep School in London. My idea for the fable “Trouble at Grasshopper Farm” came from recent visit to a farm and farm shop. I thought it would be interesting to bring the animals to life and I often wonder what they think and say to each other when living on the farm. I quite enjoy writing stories, but I enjoy illustrating them even more.

My favourite books are about Star Wars, Indiana Jones and the Harry Potter Books, I also really like factual and technical books about how things work and are made. The best book I have ever read is Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo, it is really exciting and makes you feel lots of different emotions.

My hobbies include playing tennis, swimming and I have been learning to surf which I love (but only when the weather is warm)!

When I am older I would like to be an engineer or something to do with machines and technology.

Judge's comments:

Isaac’s delightful and satisfying animal story is written with a style, skill and confidence that is rare in much older writers and was a very clear winner of the prize for younger writers in the competition. It’s a story that is well worth reading even if you forget about the age of the writer and is remarkable for a pupil who was in Year 2 at the time of writing. We’ll very much look forward to seeing what Isaac writes for future competitions.

* This is the second year running that we have had exceptional pieces of writing from younger pupils at Virgo Fidelis School in South London. They certainly must be doing something right there!


. Read or download Isaac’s special prize winning story, ‘Trouble at Grasshopper Farm


SPECIAL PRIZES FOR OLDER WRITERS   (£10 each):
 (Awarded this year for strong shorter fables with an unusual quality)

Dan Hirst for his story ‘The Neglected Pet’.
Dan was in Year 6 at Brentwood Preparatory School, Brentwood, Essex when he wrote his story

I am 11 years old and live in Brentwood, Essex. In the autumn, I will be attending Brentwood School.

My favourite school subject is English. I have received lots of encouragement and advice on my writing style from my teachers and parents. The school invited Rob Parkinson to our school last term, when he hosted a workshop. He gave us ideas for story telling and suggested we enter this year’s Fable competition.

 I enjoyed writing my fable immensely and thoroughly recommend writing any type of story to let your imagination run free.

I prefer fiction to factual books and find once I start a great book I find it hard to stop. I have recently enjoyed Ali Sparkes (Shape shifter series), Anthony Horowitz (Alex Rider series and Diamond Brothers Inc. series) and Michael Morpurgo (Kensuke’s Kingdom, War Horse and Private Peaceful). I also enjoy comic poems and especially love Spike Milligan’s eccentric rhymes.

My other hobbies include playing the trumpet and piano and my main sport is rugby.

Judge's comments:

Dan’s powerful short fable is written with style and economy and presents a clever, poetic and moving plot. The opening to the tale is perfectly done, setting the scene for the story cleverly and although the standard of writing is not quite sustained throughout, this is clearly the work of a very able and talented young writer.

Dan wrote his first draft of the story in an Able Writers session at Brentwood Preparatory School and revised it later, following suggestions made by Rob about ways to strengthen the plot – perhaps proving the point that revising stories can be very well worthwhile.


SPECIAL PRIZES FOR OLDER WRITERS   (£10 each):
 (Awarded this year for strong shorter fables with an unusual quality)

Lucy Stephenson for her story ‘The Magic Loaf’. Lucy was in Year 6 at Ann Edwards C of E Primary School, South Cerney, Gloucestershire when she wrote her story.

N.B. Probably due to a misunderstanding, we did not receive a profile and picture from Lucy to add to the site in time for the upload. We hope to add these in due course.

  
Judge's comments:

Lucy’s short, very unusual and original fable is written with an almost faultless rhythmic and fluent style. She clearly hears her story as she writes – it maintains the tone and balance beautifully throughout. Try reading it aloud to get the mature feel that Lucy has for a ‘voice’ that works, for example, in traditional stories or picture book stories. Her witty tale, however, is illustrated by dreamlike mental pictures and is lit by a whimsical humour that is even kept up in the moral. A clever and exceptional piece of writing by a very talented and able writer .

* All winners also receive a CD of their own choice from the Imaginary Journeys children’s catalogue.


RUNNERS-UP IN THE 2009 IMAGINARY JOURNEYS COMPETITION

Top Runner-up Prizes
These writers reached the final short list with the stories listed above and were effectively joint 5th in the competition. Writers will receive a book provided by sponsors plus a CD of choice from the Imaginary Journeys list and a certificate.

Rosie Collins (Year 5 – Ann Edwards C of E Primary School, South Cerney Glos) ‘The Giraffe and the Hippo’  

Millie Wright (Year 5) ‘Victorian Girl’

2nd Runner-up group – Highly Commended
These writers were in the longer final list of stories. All will receive a highly commended certificate.

Elizabeth Opiyo   (Year 5 Howard Primary School, Croydon) ‘Jack the Untrustworthy Boy’
Amy Fitzgerald (Year 6 Howard Primary School, Croydon) ‘ Mount Fuji’
Katy Barron (Year 4 Coxheath Primary School near Maidstone, Kent) ‘The Elephant and the GreenWeedyRiver’
‘Jack Morley (Year 5 St Andrew’s Prep School, Eastbourne)  ‘The Legend of the Long Man and the White Horse’
Daniel Vibert  -  ‘The Fox & his Lunch’
Philippa Crundwell  (Year 6 – from Horsham, West Sussex)  ‘King Marriot and his three sons’
Thomas HIlson (Year 6)  - ‘The Tale of the Tiger and the Wasp’

Commended stories.
Stories in this category came through the first rounds of judging and were picked for various different reasons – underlying interest and originality of plot; strong imaginative effort; interesting, vivid writing; unusual, eye-catching presentation; stories that are exceptional for the writer’s age, experience, background etc. They will all receive a commended certificate

Liam Marsh  ( Year 5 – Horsham, Sussex)  ‘The Boy who Cried Alien’
Robyn Matthews   (Year 6  - Howard Primary School, Croydon) – ‘Mauna Loa’ 
Tenisha Campbell (Year 4 -  Howard Primary School, Croydon)  ‘The Three Little Lion Cubs and the Vicious Lion Cub’
Ajitha Balakrishnan (Year 3 - Howard Primary School, Croydon) ‘The Clever Fox’
Zain Hussain (Year 4)  Manor Park, East London ‘Recycle Max, recycle!!!’
Cherise Vegraswamy  (Year 5 Howard Primary School, Croydon) ‘Sheila the Stealer’
Jasmine Mary Urquhart (Year 6) from Hemel Hempstead, Herts) ‘The Ice Hotel’
Rachel Hayward (Year 5) from Hawkinge, Folkestone, Kent ‘ The Baby Lion’
Alice Fisher (Year 6 Ann Edward C of E Primary School)  ‘The Pig and the Wolf’
James Cox  (Year 5)  Market Harborough, Leicestershire ‘The Egg-Eating Cactus’
Natalie Chance (Year 5 – Horsham, West Sussex) – ‘The Great Life Change’
Alice Fisher(Year 6 – Ann Edwards C of E Primary School, South Cerney Glos) ‘The Pig and the Wolf’
Matthew Hallett (Year 6– Ann Edwards C of E Primary School, South Cerney Glos) ‘The Chipmunk and the Sloth’