The 500 Words Blog: Let Your Imagination Play
Tips and tricks to ignite your imagination, and get those creative cogs turning.
Want to take part in the ±«Óãtv 500 words competition? It's easier than ever!
500 Words judge, Becky Escreet, explains why the competition is for anyone with an amazing idea.
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Finding the SPARK in your story
Christopher Edge, Word Expert at Oxford Universtiy Press, reveals how to find the spark of inspiration.
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Want to be a better writer?
Sue Wilkinson from The Reading Agency reveals how reading can help you become a better writer.
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7 pieces of wisdom from children's authors
Award winning author Jacqueline Wilson popped in to speak to Jo Whiley this week and inspired our pals in Radio 2 HQ to find out what wisdom other amazing others have to share.
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What's it like to take Gold?
What's it like to take Gold at the 500 Words Final and have your story read by David Walliams? 2017 winner, Livia Turner, gives us the goss...
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How to give your story the edge...
How can you make your story stand out from the rest? 2017's Silver Winner, Ashleigh May, has some tips...
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India, Imagination and The Story of A Winner
Being honest can be the key to brilliant writing. Hiya Chowdhury, Senior Runner-up in The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition, shares her experience of award-winning writing .
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500 Wondercrump Words
From Agent Wonka to Big Friendly Zombies, snozsprouts to puckleberries, this year’s entrants to the 500 Words competition show how Roald Dahl’s language continues to inspire them.
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What's the 500 Words experience like?
How does it feel to be part of the 500 Words experience? Bronze winner, Evie McKeon, spills the beans...
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Superstar Story Writer, Isla Fisher, Talks 'Marge In Charge'
How do you create compelling characters? And make them feel real? Here's a tip or two from a superstar celeb and seasoned story writer...
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Greg James Takes On The Story Writing Challenge
Greg James absolutely LOVES stories. Share his joy of everything fictional in this clip...
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10 Tips To Bring Your Story To Its Perfect Conclusion
So you’ve got a great plot, a perfect protagonist but you can’t quite nail that ending... So, to bring your story to its perfect conclusion, here are some common tricks novelists use to bring their plot to a conclusion. How will your story end?
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Last Words: 10 Great Closing Lines From Literature
So you've written the perfect 10/10 story but your last line is a bit lacking? Nailing the last words of a story can make the difference between a 'wow' and a 'WOW'. how 10 authors have done it previously.
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Lucy Worsley's True Tales from The Tower
Historian and joint Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces Lucy Worsley shares some intriguing stories from the Tower of London.
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Getting Your Tale Over The Line; 5 Ways To Find A Story In Sport
Sport has a thousand different stories which you can unlock for your 500 Words entry. Here are just a few (not to copy! But to take inspiration from)
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A Day To Remember: Written by 500 Words Winner Evie Fowler
Our truly talented 500 Words 5-9 category Gold winner describes the excitement of the 2016 500 Words Final.
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A Tour of The Tower in Four Objects
Chief Yeoman Warder Alan Kingshott brought in some props to give Chris a 'show and tell' tour of the Tower, each with their own story to tell.
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2016's Terrific 10-13 Gold Winner: Ned Marshall
2016's 10-13 category Gold winner Ned Marshall has some advice for anyone who's still unsure whether they should write a story for 500 Words.
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10 Reasons Why The Tower of London Is Totally Cool
On the 16th June 2017, the world’s biggest writing competition for kids, lands at the Tower of London in a spectacular extravaganza. There’ll be live music, superstar celebrities and sensational stories. The 500 Words Final could be the red carpet premiere of your very own story.
are 10 reasons why the Tower of London is awesome – and why you need to be there.
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Learning About Writing From 500 Words
Once we can read and write, it all seems quite easy. We might struggle to read or spell some words. We might not always understand everything we read, and sometimes, making our writing say exactly what we want it to say can be tricky. Generally though, we get along just fine. Yet, what’s going on in our minds as we read and write is pretty remarkable. How is it we do it, and how do we learn how to read and write in the first place?
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The Beautiful Game and Other Stories
Award winning author Tom Palmer has some hints on taking inspiration from your favourite sport, to get you over the 500 Words finishing line.
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Alphabot: Mubblefubbles and other Miscellanea from the Middle Ages
Alphabot has jargon buster full of fascinating words from the Middle Ages.
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Thinking About Writing and Writing About Thinking
Jonathan Bryan is an extraordinary 500 Words writer who uses his eyes to select letters on an alphabet board to make words. He uses this system for all of his communication.
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8 Helpful Hints from the 500 Words Live Lesson
500 Words judges Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Malorie Blackman answered some of your questions during the special 500 Words Live Lesson.
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Meeting Your Characters: Girls, Boys and Toads
Writer and storyteller Lari Don shares some thoughts on strong females, scrapping stereotypes and totally different toads.
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Intergalactic Inspiration
Author Christopher Edge was over the moon when he found out that he was nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2017, and we were over the moon to hear that 500 Words helped to inspire one of his stories!
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Wonderful Word Clouds
Sometimes it's hard to find the perfect word, but thankfully our brainy buddies at Oxford University Press have been busy collecting all of the vocab used in the hundreds of thousands of 500 Words entries.
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No Idea Is The Wrong Idea
Losing faith in your story? Worried that it's just not good enough? Don't fret! Little Star Writing wants you to know why your story is unique to you.
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Conjuring the Perfect Character with The Worst Witch
Wish that you could wave a magic wand to summon the perfect protagonist for your story? The Worst Witch author Jill Murphy and C±«Óãtv series writer Emma Reeves share some of their writing wisdom to help you craft dynamic dialogue, and create characters to enchant your reader.
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How to Scribe a Side-splitting Story
Authors Andy Stanton and Andy Riley have ten tips to help you write a story that will have your reader rolling on the floor with laughter.
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Finding Inspiration From Nature
Step outside with Beetle Boy Author M G Leonard as she encourages you to explore the natural world to find inspiration for your story.
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The 500 Words Story Laboratory: Ten Killer Tips In Ten Minutes
Chris Evans, Francesca Simon, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Malorie Blackman impress HRH The Duchess of Cornwall with story tips!
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The Power of Stories
Teacher Lauren Williams has an inspirational story about some of the pupils at Oxfordshire Hospital School.
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A Word From Our Children's Laureate
Children's Laureate Chris Riddell has some scribblings and sketches to kick-start your story.
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Daring To Deal With Dyslexia
Awesome author and Illustrator Tom McLaughlin doesn't let dyslexia hold him back from writing, and neither should you.
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Bedtime Stories
Why a book at bedtime is so important for children's literacy, written by one of our fabulous 500 Words volunteer judges.
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The Fantastic Four
Four famous authors have some words of wisdom for budding young writers.
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The Jury's Out! Plotting Your Perfect Story
Librarian judge Elizabeth Ryan lets us know what features she looks for in 500 Words stories, and what she awards the highest marks to.
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Fighting For Gold: Advice From Our Award-Winning Author
We could tell you how exciting the 2015 500 Words Final from St James Palace was, but Gold winning writer Sofia Zambuto could do a much better job (she did come top of the 5-9 category after all!)
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The 2015 Golden Girl: A Word From Our 10-13 Gold winner
It's not every day that you have the chance to meet Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall at the spectacular St James Palace, but that's exactly what our 10-13 category Gold Winner got to do at the 500 Words Final in 2015.
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Please Miss, May I Have Some Help?
Teacher and volunteer judge Emma Harris explains why 500 Words provides the motivation to get kids engaged with creative writing.
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Dyscovering The Wonder Of Words
Do you have specific learning difficulty (SPLD) that can make it difficult to organise and record your ideas in words on paper? If your answer is yes, then you are in good company.
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Inspiration On Download by George Sear
Presenter George Sear's a bit of a bookworm, but he wasn't always such a big fan of reading. He tells 500 Words how finding the right book for him sparked his love of literature.
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Frank Cottrell Boyce's Terrific Tips
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Greg James: Get Reading, Get Writing, Get Inspired!
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Superstar Sam Smith On Writing From The Heart
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Sam Smith - Get Reading, Get Writing, Get Inspired!
“Money On My Mind†singer, Sam Smith, says emotion and life experience helps him write.
Why YOU Should Bother With Books
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Why YOU should bother with books!
A sensational selection of famous faces reminisce about their reading revelations.
Paloma Faith On Learning Difficulties And Loving Books
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Superstar singer Paloma Faith says learning difficulties shouldn't stop you reading.
How does it feel to be a 500 Words winner?
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How does it feel to be a 500 Words winner?
Hear from some of the winners, judges and celeb readers at 500 Words 2016 reception
Barney Harwood's Brilliant Binaural Story
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Barney Harwood's Blue Peter 500 Words Story!
The captain of the Blue Peter ship has set anchor at 500 Words again with his own story!
Anthony Horowitz Reads His Very Own 500 Words Story!
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Anthony Horowitz's 500 Words Story!
An exclusive Horowitz horror for 500 Words!
Charlie Higson's Helpful Hints
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Charlie Higson's tips
Charlie Higson explained what he looks out for in 500 Word entries
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Brilliant Barney Harwood On His 500 Words Story
Blue Peter's Barney Harwood shares behind the scenes gossip of his own 500 Words story.
Cerys Matthews sets a 500 Words finalist story to music.
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Cerys Matthews sets a 500 Words finalist story to music.
Cerys reads 2015 top 50 story 'Watching the Animals' set to some beautiful music.
Plot perfection with Naomie Harris
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Naomie Harris provides plot perfecting tips to polish your story
Amanda Abbington Explores Video Gaming
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Charlie Sloth & Lady Leshurr Wax Lyrical
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Charlie Sloth & Lady Leshurr Wax Lyrical
1Xtra DJ Charlie Sloth and rapper Lady Leshurr wax lyrical about wordplay in storytelling
How to write a brilliant character: Sheila Hancock
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How to write a brilliant character: Sheila Hancock
Sheila Hancock gives story writing tips & tricks on the topic of character
Ben Willbond and Terry Deary Explore Originality
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Ben Willbond and Terry Dreay from Horrible Histories explore Originality
Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis on Character
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Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis on Character
Actor Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom in Harry Potter discusses character
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Thinking About Writing and Writing About Thinking
Fantastic 500 Words writer Jonathan has an inspirational story to help start your story.
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A Day To Remember: Written by 500 Words Winner Evie Fowler
Winner Evie Fowler describes her day to remember, at the 2016 500 Words Final.
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Finding the spark in your story
Christopher Edge, Word Expert at OUP, on finding the spark of inspiration.
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Getting Your Tale Over The Line; 5 Ways To Find A Story In Your Favourite Sport
5 ways to find a story in your favourite Sport
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How to Scribe a Side-splitting Story
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India, Imagination and The Story of a Winner
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Author Chris Edge has some inspiration that's out of this world.
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Last Words: 10 Great Closing Lines From Literature
closing lines in stories
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Learning About Writing From 500 Words
Kate Nation from Oxford University talks about writing
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Lucy Worsley's True Tales from The Tower
Lucy Worsley has some true tales from the tower to spark your imagination.
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Meeting Your Characters: Girls, Boys and Toads
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Inspiration On Download by George Sear
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