Following the success of last year’s competition, Jersey Post’s popular letter writing competition is back for a second year with a new category inviting adults to enter for the first time.
The competition celebrates the enduring power of letters – not just as a way to communicate but as a way to connect, share ideas and tell stories.
Last year’s competition attracted over 300 entries, some of which were published in a book, Once Upon a Letter. Jersey Post invites everyone from the age of 5 upwards, including adults for the first time, to get creative and take part.
The challenge is simple: tell a story in the form of letter. Write as little or as much as you’d like but no more than 850 words, either handwritten or typed. The subject of the letter is up to you. It could be a message from a dragon, a postcard from the moon, a confession from an AI robot or a letter that changes someone’s life forever. The possibilities are endless with your imagination.
Mark Siviter, CEO of Jersey Post, said: “Many of us can remember receiving a letter that made us smile, brought comfort or helped us feel closer to someone we care about. That is the unique power of letter writing. It’s personal, thoughtful and lasting. Through Once Upon a Letter, we want to inspire people of all ages to rediscover that feeling, unleash their creativity and tell stories that connect us to one another.”
Entries will be judged based on imagination, originality, the use of the letter format and the ability to keep the reader engaged. There are four categories – age 5-6; 7-10; 11-15; and age 16+ – with a winner selected from each category.
Local author Penny Byrne will head up the judging panel. She’ll be joined once again by Nicola Mackereth from the charity Every Child Our Future, and Sophia Cottier from the Jersey Post Marketing team.
Penny Byrne said: “We should all reflect on when we last received a proper hand-written letter from a friend or relative. I had a child receive their first ever letter yesterday and the excitement of that was just wonderful. This competition is a great way to rediscover the art and joy of letter writing, and I wish everyone taking part good luck – and please do enjoy it because it will show in your writing!”
Nicola Mackereth added: “Reading and writing are closely connected – I believe you can’t have one without the other. Reading opens the door to new ideas, stories and perspectives, and can be a wonderful source of inspiration for young writers. Creativity is also incredibly important for building confidence, independence and wellbeing. These are vital skills for today and for the future.”
