'Stranger Sagas': A short story writing competition
Posted 16th February 2026
At Dixons Trinity Chapeltown, we believe that every child can, and will, succeed when given the right platform. This term, that platform came in just 100 words.
"When a normal day turns upside down…
When the lights in the sky cannot be explained…
When a curse is unleashed, or a stranger presses a mysterious gift into your hands…"
Our students rose to the challenge of 'Stranger Sagas', a micro-fiction writing competition inviting them to explore the weird, the wonderful and the wildly imaginative, all within a strict 100 word limit - and they did not disappoint!
The power of this competition lies in its precision. With only 100 words to tell a story, every sentence must earn its place. Every word must work hard.
Students were challenged to:
- Shape a clear and compelling plot
- Select vocabulary with care and intention
- Craft atmosphere through deliberate detail
- Edit with discipline and purpose
This is writing at its most focused, and our young authors embraced it. The short form removed the fear of “how long does it need to be?” and replaced it with a sharper question: “How powerful can I make this?”
Entry was open to all. Prompt postcards offered inspiration, from striking images to carefully chosen sentence starters, ensuring that every student, including those who might usually hesitate, had a place to begin.
After careful judging, nine young writers whose imagination, precision and voice stood out in a field of exceptional submissions have been selected to have their work published! To be published is no small achievement. It is a powerful moment seeing your name in print, knowing your ideas have travelled beyond the classroom, recognising that your voice matters.
At Dixons Trinity Chapeltown, we talk about being thoughtful, resilient and ambitious. Stranger Sagas brought those drivers to life:
- Resilience in drafting and refining.
- Thoughtfulness in word choice and structure.
- Ambition in daring to imagine something extraordinary.
We are immensely proud of every student who entered, and we celebrate especially our nine published authors, whose work demonstrates what is possible when creativity meets craftsmanship.