鈥淏efore 500 Words, I didn鈥檛 like writing.鈥
Clara picked up the silver prize in the 5-7 age group in 2023/24 for her brilliantly-titled story 鈥楶ony with a Coat on Solving Crimes鈥.
She accepted her medal from one of her heroes - star of 2022 film Matilda the Musical, Alisha Weir.
Clara wasn鈥檛 a big fan of writing before being encouraged to enter 500 Words. But after taking part and being at the spectacular grand final, she now loves writing.
And she鈥檚 not the only one, as her mum Elspeth explains. She said: 鈥淪he's done amazingly. Since then it's just gone stratospheric, she loves writing, her classmates have written stories and come to show her.鈥
From not enjoying writing to inspiring her whole school - Clara has had an incredible year. And she says her pony detective might even come back for a sequel.
Alisha Weir: 'Pony with a Coat on Solving Crimes by Clara Webb'.
Clara: Pony with a Coat on Solving Crimes!
Clara's Mom: The final at Buckingham Palace was absolutely surreal, we were sort of so awestruck from the time we walked through the gates.
Clara: When I accepted my award, I felt really really excited, and on the stage I was with Alisha Weir.
Clara's Mom: I actually did say to the Queen, I'm very sorry, but I think that Alisha Weir tipped to you today to be the most famous person that Clara's met.
Clara: It was like a dream come true.
Clara's Mom: She didn't write things down, before she won 500 Words, before she came second, but she's done amazingly. Since then it's just gone stratospheric, she loves writing, her classmates have written stories and come to show her.
Clara: I was so shocked, I had no idea she was on TV, I was so amazed, I couldn't believe my eyes. Because I saw Clara win, I think I can win as well.
Clara's Teacher: When I found out that Clara had won the Silver Award I was absolutely thrilled.
All the time the children are preparing for their story, they were so inspired as a whole school by Clara.
I really think every primary school should be entering their children for 500 Words.
It has given the children inspiration, encouragement, it's given them, a lot of the children a feel that we can write stories, it is exciting to write stories, it's not a boring thing to do.
Clara: Before 500 Words I didn't like writing stories.
I'm writing a lot of stories at the minute.
Pony with a Coat on Solving Crimes!
Part 2.
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Back to 500 Words
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The top 50 finalists of 2023/24. audio
Read or listen to the top 50 stories that made it to the 2023/24 final.
The importance of 500 Words stories
Sir Lenny Henry, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Charlie Higson breakdown the Oxford University Report, which studies every story that is entered into the competition.
