Wicked Writers - Young Writers Competition

We are pleased to showcase our talented storyteller Layla R, in Year 5 at St Mary’s Junior School. Over the summer, Layla’s teacher, Miss Woolfenden set the class a piece of creative writing homework. The girls were asked to write a spooky story no more than 250 words. The girls’ stories were then entered into the Young Writers creative writing competition alongside thousands of other submissions. Layla’s story, The Bewitched Forest of Padley Gorge, was chosen as one of the spooky stories to be printed in the Terrific Tricks and Terrible Treats Anthology. Her terrifying tale was shortlisted for the Top Story Grand Prize.  

Now that the anthology has been published and printed, we met with Layla for an interview. 

Hello Layla, congratulations on the success of your short spooky story! Can you tell us what the story is about? 

The story is set in a bewitched forest. There are 3 siblings whose parents have disappeared, and they must try and find them. They discover a secret door in their house, which leads them to this magical forest. They explore through the door and hunt for their parents. In a shock turn of events, they find their grandmother as the evil witch… that stole their parents.  

The plot has many surprise twists and turns! What gave you the idea for this story? 

I was walking in the countryside with my family in the Peak District, somewhere called Padley Gorge. It’s a beautiful National Trust site with amazing forest-y areas and waterfalls. Originally, I had a happy story planned, with fairies and elves. But the brief for the competition was to write a spooky story. The characters are names after my cousins and me. However, my parents aren’t trapped in a forest, and my grandmother is not a magic witch!  

Incredible, so taking your learning and inspiration beyond the classroom helped you to develop your spooky storyline. The story ends on a cliffhanger, if there was a part 2, how would it go? 

I’ve already started thinking about the next part of the story. The children would discover that they have some powers (as their grandmother is a witch). They would use these powers to escape the forest but end up in another bewitched forest. They would need to now escape this forest – they find their grandmother has trapped them in this forest too! 

They would use their powers to escape this forest, save their family and break the witch curse that is on their grandmother.  

Part 2 sounds just as interesting as part 1! Tell us, why should people read your story? 

This story is perfect for people who love spooky stories with magical twists. It is also great for people who like cliffhangers and having to imagine their own fun ending.  

How do you feel about being a finalist and your story making it into the Wicked Writers anthology?  

I am really happy that I made it into the book. When I was younger, I didn’t think I was very good at creative writing. I was not very confident in this story as I didn’t spend much time planning or writing it. When I made it into the book, I realised that I am good at creative writing. I read a lot of books and I’m going to continue writing lots of stories now I am more confident in my ability. I am going to submit the second story in the upcoming BBC Creative Writing Competition.  

We are very proud of you and it is great that your confidence in your story writing abilities is growing. How do your friends and family feel about your story, and you making it into the anthology?  

My friends have said that the story is really good, and they liked reading it. My family are really proud of me. My mum and dad love the story, even though they are trapped in a forest!  

The last questions we would like to ask is what are you reading at the moment? And do you have a favourite author?  

I love reading fantasy stories. My favourite author is Enid Blyton, I have just finished The Magic Faraway Tree. Now I am starting The Naughtiest Girl series, and I’m also reading I, Spy: A Bletchley Park Mystery by Rhian Tracey.