Dear Reader, There is creativity in writing a letter. A proper letter is considered, crafted. Good letters tell us stories, using detail to draw us in. Great letters reveal their writer’s world and …
100-Word Story 2018 Winners
Now in its fifth year, our 100-Word Story competition is open to all First Story students, aged 11-18. Entries can be prose or poetry and can be on any theme. Judged by Vintage, the competition gives …
Creative Writing in Schools: Recommendations
In 2015 First Story received a Creative Writing in Schools grant of £600,000 from Arts Council England, alongside our fellow creative writing organisation, Paper Nations. We were thrilled …
Robert Webb will present our BBC Radio 4 Appeal
We are thrilled to announce that Robert Webb, actor and author of the wonderful, important, and number one bestselling book How Not To Be a Boy, will be presenting a charity appeal on behalf of First …
Imaru Lewis at YWF18
Imaru Lewis is a graduate of our intensive Writer-in-Residence programme from Highgate Wood school in London. We invited him back in 2018 to speak at First Story's Young Writers’ Festival. His …
YWF18 Highlights
In 2018 First Story's annual Young Writers’ Festival was held for the first time in partnership with the University of Cambridge. We welcomed over 330 students to the new venue, from schools across …
100-Word Story 2017 Winners
First Story and Vintage are delighted to announce the winner of the 2017-18 First Story 100-Word Story Competition. Armed with only 100 words, First Story students have come up with some stunning …
YWF17 Highlights
In 2017 we were excited to trial a special dual-site Young Writers' Festival. We returned to Oxford University's Lady Margaret Hall College, and also premiered at the University of Hull, as a part of …
First Story has partnered with the BBC
The BBC recently announced First Story and the University of Cambridge as the new partners for its short story awards, in a three-year collaboration starting in 2018. First Story will support the …
New research shows that arts projects can help narrow the achievement gap
New research, funded by Arts Council England’s Creative Writing in Schools Strategic Fund, shows that arts projects can help reduce the gap in academic achievement between rich and poor …
HRH The Duchess of Cornwall celebrates her 70th birthday in style
Literacy-focused charities and organisations, including us, have celebrated Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall’s upcoming 70th birthday by giving 70 primary schools across the UK a set of 70 …
Make your voice heard as a First Story Ambassador
We're looking for 15 First Story graduates to shape what we do – how we can make First Story a better experience and how we can shout about what we do. This is a great opportunity to have your voice …
The Folio Academy Mentorship Scheme needs you
How does a one-year mentorship with an acclaimed author from the Folio Academy sound? They’ll offer you one-to-one guidance and advice on a writing project. Learn from a creative writing master. Get …
The First Story Residential Anthology 2016
The First Story Residential Anthology 2016 has arrived! And it’s crammed full of the thoughts and voices of forty-seven students inspired by five glorious days of writing. For each student, the …
The Young Writers’ Festival 2016 Headliners Announced!
We are hugely excited to announce that award-winning writers Naomi Alderman, Laura Dockrill, Anthony McGowan and Dave Rudden will be joining First Story at this year’s …
Become a Cheltenham Festivals Writer-in-Residence
Cheltenham Festivals is a charitable organisation that champions up-and-coming talent, celebrates established artists and commissions unique performances. As a part of their inspirational educational …
First Story is now a member of The Fair Education Alliance
The Fair Education Alliance is a progressive coalition of organisations from across charities, businesses and education, all working together to fight educational inequality. The FEA is committed to …
The Bookseller reports on the ‘substantial impact’ of First Story
‘In the late Barry Hines’ novel Kes — so memorably adapted for the big screen in 1969 by Ken Loach — there is a scene in which the young hero, Billy Casper, stands at the front of the class and talks …
The winner of our Letters Live Six-Word Story Competition
A big thank you to all those who entered the Six-Word Story Competition that First Story ran at Letters Live – there was a delightful array of funny, moving and clever entries that we hugely enjoyed …
A 5 minute interview with William Fiennes
The London Book Fair caught up with our co-founder, William Fiennes, for a short interview to mark First Story being selected as The London Book Fair’s charity of the year. We've reproduced the …
First Story Young Writers in a Ted Hughes Prize shorlisted poem
A huge congratulations to former First Story Writer-in-Residence Kate Clanchy, who has been shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Prize for New Work in Poetry 2015. Kate has been …
First Story is London Book Fair’s Charity of the Year
We are so pleased to announce that First Story has been chosen as London Book Fair’s Charity of the year. We’re really looking forward to being part of one of the most exciting events in the …
Our 100-Word Story Competition Winners are in The Bookseller
The winners of this year's First Story’s 100-Word Story Competition, judged by Vintage Books, have been featured in The Bookseller. This is just one more way to give them a huge …
100-Word Story 2015 Winners
The judges at Vintage Publishing were hugely impressed with the inventiveness and creativity of all entries, and after a long deliberation process we are excited to announce the overall winner and the …
