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Special events
Creative writing competition
This year’s Summer Reading Challenge has “a Story Garden” as its central theme, and we are delighted to invited you to enter our creative writing competition!
Closing date for all entries 23 August 2025.
Theme
Please write a story using the theme “The Garden”
Age categories
There are three age categories:
- 8 to 10
- 11 to13 and
- 14 to 16
Guidelines
Spelling, punctuation and grammar are not marked and entries will be judged by Alice Fowler, an award-winning author.
All stories must:
- Be 1000 words or less (title is not included in the number)
- Be written by an individual and not a group
- Be a child’s own original idea
- Be prose, not rap or poem
- Stories must not:
- Give any personal details (including their name)
- Recount an historical event (but they can use a real person or historical character as a source of inspiration)
- Be created, written or developed by Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- If you choose to type your story, please use a standard font e.g. Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman. Use of library computers is included free in your library membership - although printing is normally charged at the library - the printing charge of your story will be waived).
Shortlisting criteria
We will consider:
- Use of language and imagery
- Engaging narrative
- Exciting characters
- Use of suspense or an unusual plot twist
- Strong opening paragraphs
Submitting your short story
- Please write or type single-sided and include your name, age and contact details of a person over 18 on the reverse of each page.
- If your story is more than 1 page please number your pages in order.
- Please submit your short story on A4 paper by handing it into the helpdesk at one of the following libraries: Addlestone, Chertsey, Knaphill, West Byfleet and Woking.
- Closing date for all entries 23 August 2025.
Prizes
Your story will be read by an award- winning author! Other prizes include book goodies, badges and certificates. Winning entries will also be displayed in the library.
About the author and judge of the competition entries
Alice Fowler is an award-winning writer of short stories, poetry and longer fiction. Her debut short story collection, The Truth Has Arms and Legs, was published in 2023. Her writing is inspired by nature and the rich but often untold stories of the past.
Pebble rhymetime and storytime
Pebble rhymetime
- Every Friday at 10.30am
- Every Saturday at 11am
Please note: Entry to the library will be via the car park.
Find out more about Pebble rhymetimes in Surrey libraries.
Storytime
There are currently no storytime sessions at this library.
Find out more about storytime in Surrey libraries.
Reading groups
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Find out more about reading groups in Surrey libraries.
Other events
Digital support volunteer
There is currently no Digital support volunteer service at West Byfleet library. Please see our Digital support volunteer page for more information and to find out which libraries currently offer a Digital support volunteer service.