Young Country Diary Series Now Open for Submissions: Give Your Child a Chance to Get Published in The Guardian
The Young Country Diary series is back, offering young writers aged 8-14 the opportunity to share their fascinating encounters with nature. This is a fantastic chance for children to express themselves and develop their writing skills while exploring the great outdoors.
The series is open for winter submissions, with a deadline of noon on Monday, February 2nd. Four winning articles will be published in The Guardian newspaper and online, two in January and two in February. Don't worry if your child doesn't get selected this time - the submission form will reopen in early March for spring-themed entries.
To participate, simply follow these easy steps:
1. Take your child on a nature walk to an area with interesting plants, animals, or landscapes.
2. Encourage them to observe their surroundings and jot down notes about what they see, hear, smell, touch, and feel.
3. Help your child write a 200-250 word article describing their experience, including any interesting facts or insights they gathered during their outing.
Tips for budding YCD writers:
* Use the senses to bring your story to life - what did you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel?
* Describe what happened in detail and think about how it reminded you of something else.
* Research any interesting topics that caught your attention, such as identifying a bug or learning about its habitat.
* Don't be afraid to describe the entire scene, from the sky to the horizon, or focus on small details like a butterfly's wings.
* Think about what your experience made you feel and how it has inspired you.
The deadline for submission is 10pm on Sunday, February 2nd. If your child's piece is selected for publication, they will be paid and their article will be featured in The Guardian.
For inspiration, check out some recent entries by talented young writers like Mia, Sachin, and Flynn, who share their amazing experiences with nature. Good luck to all the entrants!
The Young Country Diary series is back, offering young writers aged 8-14 the opportunity to share their fascinating encounters with nature. This is a fantastic chance for children to express themselves and develop their writing skills while exploring the great outdoors.
The series is open for winter submissions, with a deadline of noon on Monday, February 2nd. Four winning articles will be published in The Guardian newspaper and online, two in January and two in February. Don't worry if your child doesn't get selected this time - the submission form will reopen in early March for spring-themed entries.
To participate, simply follow these easy steps:
1. Take your child on a nature walk to an area with interesting plants, animals, or landscapes.
2. Encourage them to observe their surroundings and jot down notes about what they see, hear, smell, touch, and feel.
3. Help your child write a 200-250 word article describing their experience, including any interesting facts or insights they gathered during their outing.
Tips for budding YCD writers:
* Use the senses to bring your story to life - what did you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel?
* Describe what happened in detail and think about how it reminded you of something else.
* Research any interesting topics that caught your attention, such as identifying a bug or learning about its habitat.
* Don't be afraid to describe the entire scene, from the sky to the horizon, or focus on small details like a butterfly's wings.
* Think about what your experience made you feel and how it has inspired you.
The deadline for submission is 10pm on Sunday, February 2nd. If your child's piece is selected for publication, they will be paid and their article will be featured in The Guardian.
For inspiration, check out some recent entries by talented young writers like Mia, Sachin, and Flynn, who share their amazing experiences with nature. Good luck to all the entrants!
I mean, yay for kids getting a chance to write about nature... how original 
. Like, every kid wants to spend their Saturday taking a walk in the woods just so they can get published in The Guardian. Can't wait to see what gems of writing we'll get from 8-14 year olds scribbling down whatever comes to mind on that walk. I'm sure it'll be super nuanced and not at all simplistic 
.
. And yay for getting paid and published! I'm definitely signing them up ASAP 
! Letting kids explore nature and express themselves through writing can be super beneficial for them. It's not just about sharing what they saw or heard but also about developing their critical thinking skills & creativity 
My little sis did something similar last summer and it was amazing to see how excited she got when she wrote about the birds she spotted 
!
! It's like a dream come true for them to get published in The Guardian & get paid too 
! I have 2 kiddos & they're literally going on a nature walk this weekend with their notebooks ready to write about all the cool stuff they see & feel 
the Young Country Diary series is literally the perfect opportunity for kids to unleash their creativity & explore the great outdoors 
. I mean, who doesn't love writing about nature? 
And the fact that they'll be published in The Guardian is like, a major win 
#KidsLit #NatureLovers #WritingInspiration
Mia, Sachin, Flynn... they're all so inspiring! 
and I love how The Guardian is encouraging kids to use their senses to bring their stories to life 
. It's all about sparking that creativity & curiosity in young minds 
. I remember when my grandkids were younger, we'd go on nature walks together and they'd collect leaves and rocks in this little bucket. They'd come back inside and tell me all about it, and I could see the excitement in their eyes 
. It's great that The Guardian is offering a platform for them to share their experiences with others - I'm sure it'll inspire a love of writing and nature in lots of young minds 
and who knows maybe one of them will get published next year 
Good luck to all the entrants! 
2mo from now can't wait 2 see who gets picked
u gotta take ur mini me out 4 nature walk, grab some snacks & let them jus write from the heart 
we should totally do this together!!
It's a win-win situation for both the kids and The Guardian!
It's amazing that they're giving young writers like my niece a chance to get published and get paid for it too! 
and it's awesome that The Guardian is supporting this initiative! 
. If your kid gets published, they'll be part of an amazing community of young writers - check out the stats: 90% of YCD writers are girls 
and 75% come from urban areas 
. I'm sure it's not just about getting published, though - it's about the experience itself! The Guardian has published some pretty cool articles in the past, like a kid who discovered a hidden world under their bed 
(stats show 45% of kids love reading about adventure and mystery 
. Can't wait to see some talented young writers out there & maybe even my kiddo will be featured in The Guardian 
. Tips on using the senses? 
