Young Sheffield writer reaches final of national competition

A creative student from Sheffield has been shortlisted for a national award.
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Naomi Thomas, aged 17, is down to the last five in the 2020 BBC Young Writers’ Award.

Now in its sixth year, the competition is open to all writers between the ages of 13 and 18 years and was c reated to discover and inspire the next generation of writers. It is a cross-network collaboration between BBC Radio 4 and Radio 1.

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Naomi’s work entitled ‘The Battle of Trafalgar Square’ is upon againts pieces by three 18-year-olds and one 15-year-old.

Shortlist finalist Naomi ThomasShortlist finalist Naomi Thomas
Shortlist finalist Naomi Thomas
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It was described by judges as a ‘a punch in the face of a story, in the best possible way,’ an ordinary commute on a crowded tube train is transformed into a surreal and darkly, comic experience when a woman has an unexpected and shocking accident. Written as practice for Naomi’s English Language GCSE, the story exposes both the good and bad in human nature via a short story that highlights the power of the form to ‘give us a complete literary experience in and of itself’.

An avid short story writer, Naomi was Highly Commended in the Young Northern Writers’ Awards 2020.

Katie Thistleton, chair of the judging panel, said: “This year has been an unsettling one for young people and writing has proved a powerful way to explore complex feelings and emotions. Gaining insight into the minds of teenagers and what they care about through their writing has never seemed so vital. I hope this year’s entries will inspire others.”

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The winner will be announced live on BBC Radio 4 Front Row on October 6.

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