Seasoned writers along with aspiring ones have an opportunity to improve their craft – and even get published – through Next Chapter’s ‘The Island Tales Writing Challenge’ contest.
Now in its third year, the bookstore’s contest runs until 31 August and is open to all Cayman Islands residents aged 8 years and up.
Next Chapter general manager Sydney Solomon shared background on the initiative.
“It’s important for Next Chapter to be a part of our community, and promoting literacy and a love of reading and writing is high on our list of priorities,” she said. “This is our way of supporting the writers in Cayman – by giving them a free, accessible workshop and connections to existing authors, book lovers, and the inspiration to pick up their pens and know their dreams are tangible at any age.”
Solomon also said that most other writing competitions tend to focus on a younger demographic – primarily kids in school.
“It was important to me that we were inclusive of all, and that we support and inspire everyone at any age to write. So many adults, myself included, love to write and we want to inspire everyone.”
In 2024, the bookstore launched the first iteration; ‘The Roald Dahl Revolting Rhymes Writing Competition’ was open to only ages 8-12, with the support of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise. Then in 2025, the store kept the same concept but expanded to ages 13 and above and added a workshop with author J.F. Lee as well as a panel of local authors to judge.
Details of the contest and workshops are available on Next Chapter’s Facebook page, where residents can download this pamphlet.
“This year we changed the concept entirely, adding more refined age categories and writing prompts, as well as adjusting word-counts,” Solomon said.
The contest has also been well received by the public, Solomon added, including parents that are pleased children have an outlet to showcase their skills and improve their confidence.
She also praised Lee for his involvement. “J.F. is incredible! He is passionate about writing and contributes selflessly. This competition and workshop would not be what it is today without him.”
The workshop
Lee, a well-established writer and previous professor from Brigham Young University in Utah, said the idea behind the workshop was to help participants with the information, tools and techniques that will enable them to successfully write their stories.
“When writers understand the different components, then the task becomes more manageable. Writers can construct their story according to a blueprint, which is easier than just winging it,” he said.
He also explained that most people understand the criteria for a good story more than they realise. “Because we consume media and fiction in some shape or form, we have an instinctive sense of why a short story is good. The workshop enables writers to then replicate it so that readers will enjoy their stories as well.”
The next workshop sessions are being inside Next Chapter on 22 and 29 July at 6pm. The final session, scheduled for 12 August, will enable writers to edit their drafts ahead of the 31 August deadline.
Lee also emphasised that interested writers could join the contest at any point in time over the summer months gain the materials and support they need.
Criteria
For this year’s contest, there is a word-count limit for each age category, plus a series of writing prompts; writers must choose one of the prompts to create their story.
The wordcount for 8–12-year-olds is 1,000. Prompts include:
- The chicken finally tells you why it crossed the road. What is the secret?
- Suddenly ducks don’t like you. They quack at you and chase after you at the park. How do you get them to like you again? Alternatively, suddenly ducks love you and won’t leave you alone. How do you get them to leave you be?
- Write a story that begins with a person holding a melted popsicle.
- Write a story from the point of view of an animal.
For writers aged 13-15 years and for those 16+, the wordcount is 1,500 and 2,500, respectively. In addition to the prompts listed above, they can draw inspiration from these more mature ones:
- Let a small act of kindness unintentionally trigger chaos or destruction.
- You discover footprints on the sand that stop abruptly with no one around.
- A character discovers an object on the beach that belongs to someone they lost years ago.
- Write about a character doing the wrong thing for the right reason, or a character doing the right thing for the wrong reason.
Prizes, judging and submissions
The awards will be given in the fall of 2026. Solomon also confirmed that there will be gift card prizes from Next Chapter for the winners and that they will have their stories featured in the “Island Tales” book of short stories for 2026, which will be available in 2027.
“Each author will receive a copy and have the opportunity to participate in a book launch and signing, after which we will sell the book exclusively in Next Chapter,” she said.
“Last year we had an amazing panel of local authors that also assisted with judging the competition: J.F. Lee, Paullete McField, Brianna Wilson, Kate Amigo, Erin Connelley, Alisha Sevigny and Catherine Tyson Swell. You can expect to see several of them return to the panel this year.”
This year’s submissions will be judged based on:
- How well the prompts are adapted into original, imaginative and creative ideas
- How well the elements of storytelling such as dialogue, description, pacing etc. are used to create a compelling narrative
- The correct use of spelling, grammar and punctuation
The deadline for submission is 11.59pm on 31 August.
Submissions can be emailed to [email protected]
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