大象传媒

大象传媒 Northern Ireland's Two Minute Tales is back – and just in time for Christmas!

The short story competition for 5-16 year-olds will open for entries at 12 noon on Tuesday 10th October 2023 and close at ***8:00pm on Friday 10th November 2023***.

If you'd like to submit a story then it must to be no longer than 300 words.

The theme for this year is 'What Happened this Winter...'.

Remember, this is the theme - it doesn't have to be the title of your story.

Stories can be inspired by real life events, but we’d love to read your magical and fantastical works of fiction.

To get a taste of the range and breadth of stories we’ve received in the past, then take a peek at our past winners and runners-up.

Above all else, we are interested in imagination and creativity, in children and young people writing the story they want to write, rather than one they think they should write.

It’s definitely not an English test, Two Minute Tales is all about having fun and telling a great story.

Yes, you can do both at once!

There are three ways a parent, guardian or teacher can submit a story:

1. Online at the Two Minute Tales website using our English language webform or our Irish language webform.
2. Via email by downloading a PDF entry form, completing it, and emailing to twominutetales@bbc.co.uk
3. Via post by downloading a PDF entry form, completing it, and posting to: Two Minute Tales, 大象传媒 Northern Ireland, Broadcasting House, Belfast, BT2 8HQ

Teachers can email or post either text entries or scans of pupil’s stories and MUST have obtained consent from the parent or guardian of the child before doing so.

Teachers can also submit multiple entries by post and email using the multiple submission form.

Please note – the 大象传媒 may require evidence of this.

Please ensure you've read our Competition Rules and Privacy Notice before submitting your stories.

Entries will be sorted into four categories, English language age categories: 5 - 8, 9 - 12 and 13 - 16, and Irish language category for ages 5-11.

Stories will be broadcast so it is important they do not include any personal details about the writer.

Writers must not include their name in the title or body of your story.

Finalist's names will be revealed on The Lynette Fay Show on Radio Ulster on Tuesday 28th November 2023.

Their Two Minute Tales will be broadcast in the lead up to Christmas.

English language categories:

Monday 18th December 2023: 5 - 8 age category finalists revealed on The Lynette Fay Show.

Tuesday 19th December 2023: 9 - 12 age category finalists revealed on The Lynette Fay Show.

Wednesday 20th December 2023: 13 - 16 age category finalists revealed on The Lynette Fay Show.

Thursday 21st December 2023: Overall winners in each category revealed on The Lynette Fay Show.

Irish language category:

Tuesday 19th December 2023: 5 - 11 category finalists revealed on Blas and the winner announced.

A compilation programme featuring all the shortlisted Two Minute Tales will be broadcast on Christmas Day on Radio Ulster.

12 finalists will be chosen in total and they will be split evenly across the four categories. English language categories: 5 – 8 (3 stories shortlisted), 9 -12 (3 stories shortlisted), and 13 – 16 (3 stories shortlisted). Irish language category: 5-11 (3 stories shortlisted).

Each finalist story will be voiced by an actor and transformed into an audio story before being broadcast on The Lynette Fay Show or Blas on 大象传媒 Radio Ulster in December 2023.

The overall winning entry in each category will be turned into an animation and featured across 大象传媒 online.

All of the 12 finalist Two Minute Tales in each category will receive a specially commissioned illustrated storybook featuring their story.

The Two Minute Tales production team will carry out the first round of shortlisting.

The top 40 entries will be given to a judging panel who will select 3 finalists in each category including an overall winner.

Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

- Originality

- Plot

- Characterisation

- Language (descriptive language not fluency)

- Enjoyment

You can learn more about our judging panel here.