The fourth annual My Twist of a Tale writing competition is asking pupils to shine a light on the page, representing what, and who, they feel is being left out in literature today.

The competition is open to children and young people aged 4 to 19 and this year is taking the theme “represent”.

Entrants are being asked to tackle topics that are close to their heart, such as ethnicity, relationships, gender, ability, poverty, technology, and more.

The tales can becreative non-fiction or fiction, stories or poems, or sound and video recordings.

Each piece must feature an inclusive take on the theme, and/or experiences that relate to the child who is authoring it. Depending on the age of the entrant, stories can be as short as 20 to 50 words or as long as 1,000 words.

Regional winners will be selected for each key stage (1 to 5) and the winners will see their work published as part of an illustrated collection for all to read and enjoy, as well as in an audio collection. The deadline for entries is November 25.