Creative English Wrld Revolutionizing Language Learning

Beyond the classroom

Opportunities to Share

Real writing. Real readers. Real opportunities.

One of the most exciting parts of becoming a writer is discovering what happens when someone else reads your work.

Throughout the year, students will have opportunities to write for audiences beyond the classroom, including selected English-language writing competitions and publication projects.

Our main class competition

Young Authors Fiction Festival (YAFF)

American Library in Paris

  • Main class competition
  • France
  • Ages 5–18
  • Up to 1,000 words
  • Free to enter

The Young Authors Fiction Festival is an annual English-language creative writing competition organised by the American Library in Paris. It is open to young writers who live in France. This is the competition our class will work towards together.

The challenge

Students write an original short story in English. For students in 6ème–5ème, stories may be up to 1,000 words. Students will develop their stories through our writing process: Discover → Shape → Craft → Strengthen → Share.

Why enter?

This is a wonderful opportunity for students to experience what it means to write for a real audience. Winning and highly placed stories are published in the YAFF Celebration Booklet, giving young writers the exciting experience of becoming published authors. The 2026 competition received more than 900 entries from young writers throughout France.

When?

The 2026 competition opened in February and closed on 1 April 2026. Dates for the 2027 competition will be announced by the American Library in Paris.

Other optional competitions

Students who would like an additional challenge may also choose to enter competitions such as:

Let's Write!

Class Acts

  • Optional
  • International
  • Ages 11–19
  • 750–1,200 words

Let's Write! is an international English-language creative writing competition for young people aged 11–19. Students take a book they have read and write a new story within its world — a prequel, a sequel, or a side story featuring one of the characters.

The deadline is 10 January 2027.

Canterbury Tales Writing Competition

Chaucer Heritage Trust

  • Optional
  • UK / International
  • Ages 11–14
  • Up to 500 words

An international writing competition inspired by Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. It has a dedicated 11–14 age category, which suits collège students well.

The deadline is 28 February 2027. Check the current competition rules for the entry fee when submitting.

These opportunities are optional. Students will never be expected to enter a competition simply for the sake of competing.

The goal is not simply to win.

Writing for an authentic audience gives students an opportunity to take their work seriously, discover what kind of writer they are, and experience what it means to put their ideas into the world.

Write something you care about. Make every word count. Then be brave enough to share it.

Public speaking

Sharing does not always mean submitting a story. Students will also practise presenting their own work aloud throughout the year, building confidence in speaking, delivery, expression and audience awareness.

At the end of the year, students will present an original piece at the End-of-Year Show.