Seventeen talented teenagers from Dover Christ Church Academy are set to become published authors after their gripping mini-thrillers were selected for the Stranger Sagas anthology. The students, aged 11 to 18, successfully completed the "Stranger Sagas Creativity Unleashed" challenge, a nationwide competition that tasks young people with writing atmospheric 100-word stories in genres such as crime, fantasy, adventure, or sci-fi.
Competition Details and School Pride
The academy, part of the Turner Schools trust, announced this week that the students' entries will be printed in an upcoming Stranger Sagas anthology. Headteacher Matt Tate expressed immense pride in the students, saying: "We were very proud of how the students at Dover Christ Church rose to the challenge of this competition so enthusiastically. To have 17 make it through to the ‘Stranger Sagas’ anthology is a real confidence boost and we are delighted that they have been recognised for their creativity and will ultimately become published authors."
Nurturing Young Voices
Students from all year groups were invited to craft a 100-word mini saga, a task that required careful editing and redrafting to meet strict entry criteria. The tight word limit encouraged precision and creativity in plot and vocabulary. In March, the school submitted entries from multiple year groups, and this week learned that 17 submissions were selected for publication. Each successful student will receive a certificate and a "Stranger Sagas" bookmark.
Impact and Future Publication
This achievement highlights the impressive literary talent in Dover and underscores the academy's dedication to nurturing young voices. The final collection is expected to be printed later this year, marking a memorable first step into the publishing world for these 17 local students. Tate added: "Thanks also to our English teachers who encouraged, collated and submitted all the students’ creative writing entries - the competition has been a great way to inspire creativity."
