Write an animal story for the Mumsnet and Walker Books writing competition

[RachelMumsnet]

Do you secretly have a book inside you? Would you like to see it published?

Do you love making up stories for children? Why not enter this year's Mumsnet, Gransnet and Walker Books writing competition and see your story published in a beautifully illustrated gift book?

Last year we ran an incredibly successful writing competition to find 10 inspiring and original bedtime stories. Hundreds of people entered and the 10 winning stories were chosen by former Children's Laureate, Michael Rosen, and published in The Book of Bedtime Stories. The book was recently listed first in The Independent's top children's books for 2013, described as "beautifully produced ... could be a collector's item".

Mumsnet, Gransnet and Walker Books are now very excited to be launching the competition for its second year. This year, the theme will be animal stories. We want you to submit your stories before Monday 6 January. This year we have a judging panel - full details yet to be revealed but this will include previous Children's Laureate, Anthony Browne.

Find out how to enter this fabulous competition. For inspiration and to read winning stories, get your hands on a copy of The Mumsnet Book of Bedtime Stories.

[ChaffinchOfDoom]

ooooh!

[HouseAtreides]

I may give this a go- thanks MN :)

[spudmasher]

How exciting! I have a story I have written- might give it a whirl!!! I've tried it out on children and they like it!

[WhosLookingAfterCourtney]

Forgive me if this is a silly question, but can it rhyme and still be prose?

[catsrus]

shouldn't there be a 'submit' button? ATM you upload the file, fill in the details and then what?

[RachelMumsnet]

@catsrus

shouldn't there be a 'submit' button? ATM you upload the file, fill in the details and then what?

That's strange - there is a submit button and I'm not sure why you're not seeing it Catsrus. I'll speak to our tech team and PM you about this tomorrow.

[catsrus]

Thanks :-)

Tell tech I was on a Mac using Firefox - am at work today but can send a screen grab tomorrow if s/he needs one. I got a nice big error message saying to reattach the file when I tried pressing enter after filling in the final field (enter can sometimes work like submit, clearly not in ths case )

[CogitoErgoMum]

What a great competition. I might well give it a go.

[IHATEBARCLAYSBANK]

Can children enter ??

My DD has written some fantastic stories & I can think of at least one that would fit this brief - she's 11 but very advanced for this sort of thing.

Also can we illustrate them ourselves too, or just submit the text ??

(Very Arty household)

[mummybare]

I would like to know that too, Courtney. Does anyone know if rhyming is a no-no?

[jackiewwilshaw]

can you submit more than one?

[jackiewwilshaw]

Hi can you submit more than one?

[NotAFeminist]

IHATEBARCLAYSBANK and jackiewwilshaw If you read the terms and conditions it says you have to be over 18 years to submit an entry and it's just one entry per person.

I, too, would like to know if you can have rhymes withint the story and it still be classed as prose.

[Theimpossiblegirl]

No she doesn't. I've reported the spammer.

[NotAFeminist]

I'm curious, RachelMumsnet, how many entries did you receive for the first competition?!

[RachelMumsnet]

Sorry it's taken a while, we've now spoken to Walker Books and we're going to answer some of the Qs that have cropped up here.

[RachelMumsnet]

@WhosLookingAfterCourtney

Forgive me if this is a silly question, but can it rhyme and still be prose?

Rhyme is fine but we want prose so poetry isn't allowed (if that needs further explanation let us know and we'll elaborate)

[RachelMumsnet]

@catsrus

shouldn't there be a 'submit' button? ATM you upload the file, fill in the details and then what?

Think we figured this one out. Can you see the submit button now catsrus?

[RachelMumsnet]

@IHATEBARCLAYSBANK

Can children enter ??

My DD has written some fantastic stories & I can think of at least one that would fit this brief - she's 11 but very advanced for this sort of thing.

Also can we illustrate them ourselves too, or just submit the text ??

(Very Arty household)

We're afraid the comp is open to over 18s only.

[RachelMumsnet]

@jackiewwilshaw

can you submit more than one?

Absolutely fine to submit more than one story.