You’ll have to be quick to catch this one – it was announced in our local paper, The Sutton Coldfield News, today but entries must be received (via email) by December 6th.

It’s an annual competition to raise awareness of the plight of homeless people.

Stories should be 500 words or less and be emailed to sutton_news@mrn.co.uk. Please specify which age category you are entering, 10 and under, 11-17 or 18 and over.

The winner in each category will receive a £20 book token and be published in the Sutton Coldfield News. 

The prize may be small and the deadline tight but it’s a competition worth entering because:

• There is no entry fee
• It’s email entry
• It’s only 500 words
• The field will be small because it’s not widely advertised
• The field will be small because the deadline is tight
• Meeting the deadline will be a good exercise in self-discipline
• If you win it’s another cutting for your file

 But don’t think you can get away with sending any old thing. I won this competition the first time it was run and have entered every year since – with no success. Each time I’ve read the winning story and realised it was more original than the tired old stereotype I was using.

So now I’m off to dream up a unique take on the homeless!