Name: THE CHERRY PICK FREE WRITERS ® INTERNATIONAL CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION
Brand: CREATIVE WRITING CHILDREN COMPETITION
SKU: 3297
Price: 31.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

THE CHERRY PICK FREE WRITERS ®

INTERNATIONAL CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION

International Creative Writing Competition for Children & Young Writers.

Every great person starts as a child with an idea.

We are not looking only for perfect writing.

We are looking for extraordinary imagination.

THE CHERRY PICK FREE WRITERS ® is an international creative writing competition designed to encourage children and young people to develop their imagination, creativity and storytelling through original creative writing.

* All stories must be submitted in English.

COMPETITION AT A GLANCE

Item	Key Information
Age groups	🍒 Cherry Buds: 5–7 · 🌸 Cherry Blossoms: 8–10 · 🍒 The Cherries: 11–13 · 🍒 Ripe Cherries: 14–18
Categories	10 creative-writing categories
Language	English only
Entry fee	€31 per story
Number of entries	No maximum number of entries per writer
Multiple entries	A writer may submit as many stories as they wish in the Summer and/or Winter competition. Each story is a separate entry and requires a separate €31 payment.
Competitions	Two competitions each year
Summer deadline	31 May
Winter deadline	31 October
Submission format	PDF
Possible additional format	Winners or selected entrants may be asked to provide an editable Word document.
Included	Competition entry, professional checking/evaluation, online certificate, consideration for awards and special recognition
Trophy	May be offered separately to eligible winners/award recipients for an additional fee
Special opportunity	Selected young writers may be invited to the Cherry Pick Creative Writers’ Camp at Cherry Pick Estate, Ireland.
Camp fee	Separate fee
Submission email	cherry@cherry-pix.com

THE FOUR AGE GROUPS

🍒 Cherry Buds — Ages 5–7

Suggested length: 500–1,000 words

Focus: imagination, simple storytelling, memorable characters and creative ideas.

Incorporating the young writer’s own drawings or AI-generated images into the original story is encouraged and may earn additional points for creativity and visual presentation.

🌸 Cherry Blossoms — Ages 8–10

Suggested length: 1,500–2,500 words

Focus: developing characters, settings, plots and complete story arcs.

Incorporating the young writer’s own drawings or AI-generated images into the original story is encouraged and may earn additional points for creativity and visual presentation.

🍒 The Cherries — Ages 11–13

Suggested length: 2,500–5,000 words

Focus: stronger character development, dialogue, plot structure and more detailed storytelling.

Incorporating the young writer’s own drawings or AI-generated images into the original story is encouraged and may earn additional points for creativity and visual presentation.

🍒 Ripe Cherries — Ages 14–18

Suggested length: 5,000–10,000 words

Focus: sophisticated storytelling, complex characters, multi-chapter narratives, detailed settings and ambitious plots.

Incorporating the young writer’s own drawings or AI-generated images into the original story is encouraged and may earn additional points for creativity and visual presentation.

The suggested word lengths are intended as guidance. The organiser reserves the right to consider entries outside the suggested range, but substantially exceeding the stated range may affect eligibility or result in disqualification.

THE TEN COMPETITION CATEGORIES

Each story must be entered into one category only.

Fantasy
Adventure
Mystery
Science Fiction
Fairy Tales & Fables
Humour
Animal Stories
Realistic Fiction
Superhero
Spooky / Horror Lite

A writer may submit multiple stories. Each story may be entered into a different category or the same category, provided that each story is submitted as a separate entry with its own submission form and separate entry fee.

TWO COMPETITIONS EVERY YEAR

The Cherry Pick takes place twice each year.

☀️ SUMMER CHERRY PICK

Closing date: 31 May

❄️ WINTER CHERRY PICK

Closing date: 31 October

There is no maximum number of stories a writer may submit.

A writer may enter as many stories as they wish in the Summer competition, the Winter competition, or both competitions.

Every story constitutes a separate entry and requires a separate €31 submission fee and separate submission documentation.

ENTRY FEE

€31 PER STORY

The €31 entry fee includes:

Competition entry;
Professional checking and evaluation by experienced writers and/or appropriately qualified creative-writing professionals;
Consideration for the published awards;
Consideration for special recognition;
Online certificate.

*A trophy may be offered separately to eligible winners or award recipients for an additional fee.

Purchasing a trophy does not influence judging, the award decision or the selection of winners.

Submission Fee Refund Policy

The submission fee is non-refundable once an entry has been submitted, regardless of whether the entry is subsequently withdrawn, disqualified, shortlisted, commended or selected as a winner.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Each story must be submitted by email to:

cherry@cherry-pix.com

For each individual story, the email must contain all three of the following:

Completed Submission Form

The official competition submission form must be completed and attached.

Proof of Payment

Proof of payment of the €31 entry fee must be attached.

Applicants from China may pay the entry fee via WeChat. Details of the available payment arrangements will be provided by the organiser.

The Story

The complete story must be attached in PDF format.

For winning or selected entries, the organiser may subsequently request the original story as an editable Word document (.doc or .docx) for editing, typesetting and publishing purposes.

Email Subject Line

The email subject must follow this format:

Age Group / Category / First Name & Last Name / Country

Example:

8–10 / Fantasy / Judy Yang / UK

For multiple stories, a separate email and separate submission documentation should be used for each entry.

ENTRY FORMAT AND PRESENTATION

Stories must be submitted in PDF format.

Both vertical (portrait) and horizontal (landscape) page formats are permitted. Young writers may choose the orientation that best suits their story, illustrations, visual presentation or creative approach.

The PDF should be clear and readable and should contain the complete story in the required order.

Required Structure

Cover Page

The cover should include:

Title of the story;
Subtitle, where applicable;
Author’s name;
Name of the competition publisher.

The publisher may subsequently create or redesign the cover for publication.

First Inner Page — About the Author

The first inner page should contain a short biography of the young writer.

The writer may also include a photograph of themselves if they wish.

The biography may include:

First name and age;
Country;
Interests and hobbies;
Favourite types of stories or books;
What inspired them to write the story;
Writing interests or ambitions.

A photograph is entirely optional.

Parents or guardians should ensure that no unnecessary private information is included.

Second Inner Page — Introduction

The second inner page should contain a short introduction to the story.

This may explain the inspiration, idea, setting or central theme of the story and help the reader enter the world created by the young writer.

The Story

The complete story follows the introduction.

The writer may use illustrations, drawings and other visual creative elements as appropriate.

ONE STORY / ONE CATEGORY

Each individual entry may be entered into one category only.

If a story could reasonably fit several categories, the writer should select the category they believe best represents the story.

The organiser may move an entry to another category if it considers another category more appropriate.

A writer may submit an unlimited number of separate stories during each competition period, subject to the requirement that each story has its own application and €31 entry fee.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

Stories should be original and unpublished at the time of submission.

The organiser may, at its discretion, accept stories that have previously been shared privately or posted on a personal website or social-media account, provided that:

the work remains the writer’s original creation; and
the writer has the right to submit it to the competition.

ORIGINALITY AND AI RULE

The story must be the original creative work of the young writer.

It must not be:

plagiarised;
copied from another writer;
substantially copied from an existing story;
submitted under someone else’s name;
purchased from another person;
generated entirely by AI and submitted as the child’s own creative work.

Computerised proofreading, spelling assistance and similar tools are permitted.

AI-generated images may be incorporated into a story and are expressly permitted. The use of such images may contribute to the assessment of creativity and visual presentation.

However, the creative writing itself must belong to the child.

The organiser may ask an entrant or parent/guardian to provide clarification regarding the creation of the work if questions arise concerning originality or authorship.

Each writer must make the following declaration:

“I confirm that this story is my original creative work.”

For entrants under 18, this declaration must be confirmed by the parent or legal guardian, or by a teacher where the competition permits a teacher to submit or endorse the entry.

WHAT THE JUDGES LOOK FOR

Entries may be assessed on the following qualities, taking the writer’s age and category into account:

Imagination

Is the idea imaginative and engaging?

Originality

Does the story bring something fresh, unexpected or distinctive?

Storytelling

Does the writer successfully tell a story rather than simply describe events?

Characters

Are the characters interesting, believable, memorable or engaging?

Plot

Does the story have a clear and satisfying development?

Creativity

Does the writer use creative ideas, situations, perspectives or approaches?

Language

Does the writer use English effectively and appropriately for their age?

English is the only language permitted for the competition entry.

Description

Can the reader picture the world, characters and events?

Dialogue

Where appropriate, does dialogue help bring characters and scenes to life?

Ending

Does the story reach a satisfying conclusion?

The judges will take into account that entrants are children and young people of different ages. A five-year-old is not expected to write like an eighteen-year-old.

The competition is looking for the creative potential, imagination and storytelling ability appropriate to each writer’s age.

JUDGES

Entries will be assessed by a combination of:

experienced writers;
authors;
appropriately qualified creative-writing professionals; and
a selected group of young readers from the relevant age groups.

The young-reader panel provides an important audience perspective, assessing stories from the viewpoint of children and young people who are themselves the intended readers of much of the work submitted.

The judging process may therefore consider both:

Professional creative-writing assessment, including imagination, originality, storytelling, characterisation, structure, language and overall quality;

and

Young-reader response, including engagement, enjoyment, emotional impact, originality and the ability of the story to capture and hold a young reader’s imagination.

The composition of the judging panel may vary between categories and age groups.

Young readers participating in judging will be selected and supervised in accordance with the competition’s safeguarding requirements.

The judges’ decisions will be final, subject to the published competition rules.

AWARDS

Awards may include:

🥇 Winner

🥈 Runner-Up

⭐ Highly Commended

⭐ Commended

In addition, special awards may be presented across the competition:

🏆 The Most Imaginative Story

🏆 The Most Original Story

🏆 The Most Memorable Character

🏆 The Best Young Storyteller

🏆 The Most Unexpected Ending

🏆 The Story That Made Us Laugh

🏆 The Story That Took Us Somewhere New

The organiser reserves the right to award, combine, vary or withhold awards where appropriate.

COPYRIGHT AND PUBLISHING RIGHTS

The child remains the copyright owner of their original story.

Entering the competition does not transfer ownership or copyright of the child’s work to Free Writers Publishing, Cherry Pick Group Ltd, or any other organisation associated with the competition.

However, by entering the competition, the parent or legal guardian, on behalf of the child, grants Free Writers Publishing and/or Cherry Pick Group Ltd a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use, reproduce, publish, edit, adapt, promote and distribute the submitted story if it is selected as a winning or shortlisted entry.

This permission includes the right to use the story or extracts from it for:

announcing and publicising competition results;
competition websites and online platforms;
social media;
advertising and promotional materials;
press releases and media coverage;
certificates and competition materials;
printed or digital competition anthologies;
publishing the winning story as an individual digital or printed work; and
other reasonable promotional and publishing activities connected with the competition.

Publication of Winning Stories

Free Writers Publishing may, at its discretion, publish or offer a winning story for sale at a symbolic price intended primarily to cover the reasonable costs of the publishing platform, production, distribution, administration and promotion of the work.

The original writer’s name will remain associated with the story and will be displayed as the author when the story is published, unless the parent or legal guardian requests otherwise in writing.

The publisher may create its own cover design and may make reasonable editorial changes to a winning story before publication.

Such changes may include:

correcting language;
improving presentation;
restructuring or shortening the story;
adding or removing material;
combining or rearranging sections;
adapting the layout;
editing for readability; and
making other reasonable editorial adaptations considered appropriate for publication.

Such editorial changes do not transfer copyright ownership of the original work to the publisher.

The publisher may also create promotional extracts, adaptations or derivative versions of the story for legitimate competition, marketing and publishing purposes, while continuing to identify the original child writer as the author of the underlying work.

The publisher is not required to pay royalties or other remuneration to the writer from sales made under this competition licence, unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing.

The licence granted under these rules applies only to winning and shortlisted entries and does not give the publisher ownership of the child’s copyright.

All copyright rights not expressly granted under this licence remain with the child and/or their legal rights-holder.

For entrants under 18, all permissions and licences under this section must be granted or confirmed by the parent or legal guardian.

By submitting an entry, the parent or legal guardian confirms that they have the authority to grant these rights and that, to the best of their knowledge, the submitted work is the child’s original work and does not knowingly infringe the copyright or other rights of another person.

PARENT/GUARDIAN REQUIREMENTS

Because the competition is open to entrants under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian must approve and submit, or authorise the submission of, the child’s entry.

The parent or legal guardian is responsible for:

confirming that the information provided about the entrant, including their age, is accurate;
confirming that the submitted work is the child’s original work;
reading and accepting the competition rules on behalf of the child;
providing the required consent for the child’s participation;
providing the permissions and publishing licence described in the Copyright and Publishing Rights section;
providing any additional consent required for the use of the child’s name, photograph, interview or other personal promotional material;
providing proof of age or other reasonable documentation if requested;
ensuring that the child has the necessary travel documentation, permissions and visas if selected for an overseas camp; and
providing any additional parental or legal consent required for participation in an overseas camp or other activity involving travel or residential accommodation.

The organiser reserves the right to request reasonable evidence of parental or legal-guardian authority.

An entry may be rejected or withdrawn if the required parental or guardian consent has not been provided or if material information concerning the entrant is found to be inaccurate.

CHILD SAFETY, PRIVACY AND AUTHOR IDENTIFICATION

The safety, dignity and privacy of children participating in the competition are important priorities.

The competition will seek to collect and retain only the personal information reasonably necessary to:

administer the competition;
communicate with entrants and their parents or guardians;
assess entries;
announce results;
provide certificates or awards;
manage publishing activities; and
manage any related camp or event.

The organiser will take reasonable steps to protect children’s personal information.

The organiser will not intentionally publish sensitive personal information such as a child’s:

home address;
personal telephone number;
private email address;
school details; or
other information that could unnecessarily identify or locate the child.

Author Identification

For winning and shortlisted entries, Free Writers Publishing and/or Cherry Pick Group Ltd may identify the child as the author using their first name and age, or another age-appropriate form of identification agreed with the parent or legal guardian.

A parent or legal guardian may request that the child’s identity be presented using:

first name only;
initials; or
an agreed pen name.

Author Biography and Photograph

The young writer may voluntarily provide a biography and photograph for inclusion in the first inner page of a published book.

The photograph is optional.

No child will be required to provide a photograph, participate in an interview or appear in promotional material as a condition of entering the competition.

Promotional Material

With appropriate parent or legal-guardian consent, the publisher may use photographs, illustrations, interviews, quotations, biographical information or other material supplied for promoting the competition or celebrating the child’s achievement.

Such material may appear on:

competition websites;
Free Writers Publishing or Cherry Pick Group Ltd websites;
social media;
competition announcements;
press releases and media coverage;
promotional materials;
certificates and awards; and
printed or digital publications associated with the competition.

A parent or legal guardian may withdraw permission for future promotional use of the child’s photograph, interview or personal promotional material by contacting the organiser in writing.

Withdrawal will not necessarily require the removal of material already printed, distributed, published or incorporated into a completed publication or promotional campaign.

Withdrawal of promotional consent will not affect copyright ownership of the child’s story or publishing rights already granted under these rules.

Personal information will not be sold or knowingly provided to third parties for unrelated marketing purposes.

DISQUALIFICATION

An entry may be disqualified for:

plagiarism;
false age information;
impersonation;
substantially exceeding the applicable word limit;
inappropriate material;
attempting to influence judges;
submitting somebody else’s work;
fraudulent information;
submitting AI-generated writing as the child’s own creative work;
infringement of another person’s copyright; or
serious breach of these competition rules.

The organiser reserves the right to make the final decision concerning eligibility and disqualification.

If an entry is disqualified after an award has been announced, the organiser reserves the right to withdraw the award.

THE CHERRY PICK CREATIVE WRITERS’ CAMP

🍒 Cherry Pick Estate, Ireland

The Land of the Writers

The most talented and promising young writers may be invited to participate in a:

CHERRY PICK CREATIVE WRITERS’ CAMP

Cherry Pick Estate, Ireland

Nestled among the rolling hills of Carrick-on-Shannon, where the landscape seems to rise and fall like the pages of an unfinished story, Cherry Pick Estate offers young writers a place to step away from screens, breathe deeply and let their imagination wander.

Here, the great lakes stretch towards the horizon, reflecting clouds, trees and changing skies, while the mighty River Shannon winds through the countryside, carrying stories from one place to another.

Hills, forests, water, wildlife and open skies become part of the creative experience.

At Cherry Pick Estate, nature is not simply something to look at. It becomes part of the story.

The camp could combine:

Creative writing;
Storytelling;
Imagination exercises;
Character creation;
Writing workshops;
Nature drawing;
Nature writing;
Outdoor adventures;
Hiking through the hills;
Boating and waterside exploration;
Wildlife and nature discovery;
Tracking wild animal and bird sightings;
Creative observation;
Creative journalling;
Poetry in nature;
Photography and visual storytelling;
Planting and growing;
Creative challenges;
Collaborative storytelling;
Literary discovery;
Celtic myths and legends;
Creative cooking and picnics in nature;
Meeting other young writers;
Developing new stories; and
Quiet creative time.

Where the Landscape Becomes Part of the Story

Carrick-on-Shannon is a place where land and water seem to have been designed for storytellers.

The gentle hills push upwards from the green countryside, rolling into the distance like great waves frozen beneath the Irish sky. Between them lie the great lakes, wide and shimmering, sometimes calm as a mirror and sometimes stirred by wind into silver ripples.

Paths disappear over hills and reappear beside the water. Trees whisper at the edges of fields. Boats move slowly across the lakes, leaving delicate trails behind them.

And through it all runs the mighty River Shannon.

It does not simply pass through the landscape. It seems to connect it — hills to lakes, villages to countryside, one story to another.

For a young writer, this is more than beautiful scenery.

A hill can become a mountain in a fantasy world.

A lake can hide a secret.

A boat can carry a mysterious passenger.

A forest path can lead somewhere no map can find.

And the Shannon itself can become a character in a story.

At Cherry Pick Estate, young writers will not simply be taught to write.

They will be encouraged to look, listen, explore, imagine — and discover stories hiding in the world around them.

Outstanding young writers may be invited to participate in a Cherry Pick Creative Writers’ Camp, subject to selection, availability, parental consent and the published camp conditions.

The camp carries a separate fee.

CAMP FEE AND WHAT IT INCLUDES

The Cherry Pick Creative Writers’ Camp is designed as a complete residential creative experience, with one camp fee covering the principal costs of the young writer’s participation.

The camp fee will cover:

Full accommodation for the duration of the camp;
Dormitory accommodation for participating young writers;
Meals and refreshments throughout the camp;
Organised camp activities included in the published programme;
Creative writing workshops and storytelling sessions;
Art, drawing and nature-based creative activities;
Outdoor activities and age-appropriate hiking;
Planting, nature exploration and other creative experiences;
Boating and organised waterside activities where included in the programme and subject to weather and safety conditions;
Local excursions included in the programme;
Writing materials and other required camp materials;
Local transportation required for organised camp activities and excursions;
Appropriate supervision throughout the organised programme;
Camp participation materials; and
A camp certificate or other recognition where applicable.

The Camp Fee Does Not Include

International or domestic flights;
Visa or immigration fees;
Travel to Ireland;
Transportation to and from Cherry Pick Estate at the beginning and end of the camp;
Personal travel expenses;
Travel or medical insurance;
Personal spending money;
Optional activities not included in the published programme; or
Accommodation, meals or personal expenses for parents or guardians.

Travel and Insurance

Each participating child must have appropriate travel and medical insurance arranged by their parent or legal guardian.

Parents or guardians are responsible for ensuring that the child’s insurance provides appropriate cover for the child’s travel and participation in the camp.

Parents or guardians are also responsible for ensuring that the child has all required travel documents, permissions and visas before travelling to Ireland.

Parents and Guardians

Parents and guardians may stay independently in Carrick-on-Shannon, the nearby tourist town.

Carrick-on-Shannon offers accommodation, restaurants, cafés, shops, riverside activities and other amenities, making it a convenient base for parents who wish to accompany their child to Ireland while allowing the young writer to participate in the residential camp.

Parents staying in Carrick-on-Shannon are responsible for their own accommodation, meals, transportation and personal expenses.

The organiser may provide general information about local accommodation and practical arrangements, but parents will make and pay for their own bookings.

The precise camp dates, duration, fee, age range, accommodation arrangements, maximum number of participants, programme, payment conditions and safeguarding arrangements will be published separately for each camp.

All activities will be subject to appropriate safety arrangements, weather conditions, availability and the published camp conditions.

GENERAL CONDITIONS

The organiser reserves the right to:

amend competition dates where necessary;
make reasonable changes to the competition structure;
change or withdraw a category where circumstances require;
decline an entry that does not meet the competition requirements;
move an entry to a more appropriate category;
withhold an award where the standard required has not been reached;
request additional information or documentation;
request an editable version of a winning or selected story;
make reasonable editorial changes to stories selected for publication; and
amend camp arrangements where required for safety, availability or operational reasons.

Any material changes to the competition rules will be communicated through the official competition channels.

Submission of an entry constitutes acceptance of these competition rules by the entrant’s parent or legal guardian.

SUBMISSION CHECKLIST

Before sending an entry, please make sure you have:

Completed the official submission form.
Completed the required parent/guardian declaration.
Attached proof of payment of the €31 entry fee.
Attached the complete story as a PDF.
Checked that the story is written in English.
Selected one age group.
Selected one category.
Checked the applicable suggested word length.
Checked that the story is the young writer’s original creative work.
Used the correct email subject line.
Sent the email to cherry@cherry-pix.com.

Email Subject Example

8–10 / Fantasy / Judy Yang / UK

Remember

One writer can enter as many stories as they wish.

Every story is a separate entry.

Every separate entry requires its own submission form, proof of payment and a €31 entry fee.

THE CHERRY PICK

Where young imagination takes root.

Write it. Imagine it. Create it.

Your story could be the beginning of something extraordinary.

Below is the attached submission form

Copy past it

_________________________________________________________

SUBMISSION FORM

THE CHERRY PICK🍒

FREE WRITERS ®

INTERNATIONAL CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION

THE FREE WRITERS PUBLISHING INTERNATIONAL CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION

OFFICIAL STORY SUBMISSION FORM

Please complete this form for EACH story submitted.

A writer may submit as many stories as they wish in the Summer and/or Winter competition. Each story is a separate entry and requires a separate €31 entry fee.

YOUNG WRITER

First Name:

Last Name:

Age:

Date of Birth:

Country:

STORY

Story Title:

Age Group:
☐ Cherry Buds (5–7)
☐ Cherry Blossoms (8–10)
☐ The Cherries (11–13)
☐ Ripe Cherries (14–18)

Category:
☐ Fantasy
☐ Adventure
☐ Mystery
☐ Science Fiction
☐ Fairy Tales & Fables
☐ Humour
☐ Animal Stories
☐ Realistic Fiction
☐ Superhero
☐ Spooky / Horror Lite

Word Count:

Competition:
☐ Summer Cherry Pick
☐ Winter Cherry Pick

PARENT / LEGAL GUARDIAN

Full Name:

Relationship to Young Writer:

Email:

Telephone:

PARENT / GUARDIAN DECLARATION AND AGREEMENT

I confirm that I am the parent or legal guardian of the young writer named above, or am authorised to provide consent on their behalf.

I confirm that I have read and understood the full competition rules and terms and conditions of The Cherry Pick – The Free Writers Publishing International Creative Writing Competition, including the provisions relating to eligibility, entry fees, originality and AI, judging, awards, copyright and publishing rights, parental consent, child safety and privacy, publication, disqualification and any other conditions published by the organiser.

I agree to all of the above terms and conditions.

I confirm that the information provided in this form is accurate and that the submitted story is the young writer’s original creative work.

I understand and accept that:

the entry fee is €31 per story and is non-refundable;
the writer may submit as many stories as they wish, with each story requiring a separate entry and payment;
the story may be selected for publication in accordance with the competition’s publishing provisions;
the child retains copyright ownership of their original work;
the publisher may make reasonable editorial, structural and design changes to selected stories for publication;
the young writer’s name may be associated with a winning or shortlisted story;
the young writer’s photograph is optional; and
any invitation to participate in the Cherry Pick Creative Writers’ Camp is subject to separate selection, conditions, parental consent and fees.

I understand that the latest published competition rules and terms and conditions on the organiser’s official competition website at the time of submission form part of this agreement.

Parent/Guardian Name:

Signature:

Date: