Linda Buckley-Archer who was highly commended in the Branford Boase Award in 2007 with her novel 'Gideon the Cutpurse' has written a starter paragraph. Write a story of not more than 1,500 words, using the paragraph to start your story.

It doesn't have to be that long. Your story may make its point in just 100 words... or 500... or maybe 973! Send it to Kate Jones, the Director of Young Writer magazine, who is our Judge this year. Her address is Glebe House, Weobley, Hereford, HR4 8SD or, even better, send your story by email to youngwriter@enterprise.net no later than Saturday, 14th June, 2008.

You can enter from anywhere in the world because even if you can't get to London for the party we can send you copies of the books short-listed for the Branford Boase Award.

Make sure your story is all your own unaided work and give us your name, age and postal address. If you have an email address please add that. Don't worry! We do not ever give out the addresses of young people without their permission.

We look forward to reading your story and recognising your talent!

Linda Buckley-Archer's starter paragraph