Children, young people and adults across Suffolk are being invited to unleash their imaginations and take part in an exciting new short story writing competition – with the chance to see their work published in a keepsake magazine: The Story with 100 Endings.
The Born & Read in Suffolk campaign celebrates 2026 as the Year of Reading, championing creativity and a lifelong love of books for readers of all ages.
Supported by headline sponsor Sizewell C, sponsor Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority, supported by Ipswich Town FC, and working in partnership with National Centre for Writing and Suffolk Libraries, the initiative is dedicated to inspiring imagination and storytelling for many years to come.
The short story competition is now open, and entrants in the four age categories are challenged to finish a story that has already begun, creating their own unique ending inspired by a specially written opening.
While every writer starts from the same point, the ending is entirely up to them – and the most inventive, exciting and original entries will be selected for publication in the magazine.
Parents, teachers and carers are encouraged to get involved – whether that’s supporting young writers at home or taking part as a school activity.
We understand that younger age groups will require some support, but we encourage stories to be submitted as closely to what the child comes up with as possible for their story ending.
The beginning of the story has been expanded for each age category, building on the narrative to create a starting point from which writers of any age can take the story in endless directions.
How the story starts...
Age 5-10
Sam had read almost every book in the library. One day, Sam found a dusty old book at the back of the tallest shelf. It looked like it had never been opened.
When Sam lifted the cover, something strange slipped out from between its pages and began to move.
Age 11-15
Sam had read almost every book in the library. One day, Sam found a dusty old book at the back
of the tallest shelf. It looked like it had never been opened.
When Sam lifted the cover, something strange slipped out from between its pages and began to move.
It darted across the floor and disappeared between the shelves, leaving behind a colourful trail of smudged ink. Wherever it brushed the spines of other books, the pages inside flickered and rippled.
Sam ran after it, knocking books to the floor as it disappeared deeper into the library. Where was it going?
Age 16-18
Sam had read almost every book in the library. One day, Sam found a dusty old book at the back of the tallest shelf. It looked like it had never been opened.
When Sam lifted the cover, something strange slipped out from between its pages and began to move.
It darted across the floor and disappeared between the shelves, leaving behind a colourful trail of smudged ink. Wherever it brushed the spines of other books, the pages inside flickered and rippled.
Sam ran after it, knocking books to the floor as it disappeared deeper into the library. Where was it going?
Just as Sam caught up, it stopped beside a great leather-bound volume lying open on the ground. It folded itself into the pages – and vanished.
Sam reached out to touch the book and felt something pull. With one foot already dissolving into the paper, Sam wondered what kind of world was about to appear.
Age 19+
Sam had read almost every book in the library. One day, Sam found a dusty old book at the back of the tallest shelf. It looked like it had never been opened.
When Sam lifted the cover, something strange slipped out from between its pages and began to move.
It darted across the floor and disappeared between the shelves, leaving behind a colourful trail of smudged ink. Wherever it brushed the spines of other books, the pages inside flickered and rippled.
Sam ran after it, knocking books to the floor as it disappeared deeper into the library. Where was it going?
Just as Sam caught up, it stopped beside a great leather-bound volume lying open on the ground. It folded itself into the pages – and vanished.
Sam reached out to touch the book and felt something pull. With one foot already dissolving into the paper, Sam wondered what kind of world was about to appear.
The library had always seemed a place of quiet order, yet it held thousands of alternate universes between its walls: histories, mythologies, futures. Maps from civilisations that no longer existed. Technologies from alien empires. Visions from forbidden dreamscapes.
Sam had always known these worlds as pictures in the mind, as the private experience of a story coming alive behind the eyes.
Words on the page were inert until a reader opened the book; only then did those lost worlds come back to life – but always inside the imagination, always at a safe distance.
Something had changed. Sam looked down at the foot melting into the page and felt the boundary giving way.
Now it’s over to you to tell us how the story ends...
The deadline for entries is midnight on Sunday, July 5, 2026. All entries must be submitted online, where you can also find all the entry details, word counts, terms and conditions.
Find out more about the Born & Read in Suffolk campaign by clicking here and follow on social media using #BornAndRead2026
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