Reading Force is delighted to welcome submissions from adults, children and young people to its 2025 Memoir Writing Competition. First prize is a publishing contract with Pen & Sword Ltd.
The shared-reading charity has launched its 2025 writing competition and warmly welcomes entries from anyone and everyone in the tri-service community, including spouses and partners, children and young people, serving personnel, and veterans. Entries can be submitted until 31st August and winners will be announced in January 2026.
Reading Force is thrilled to have launched another writing competition because they were so impressed and moved by the entries in their first competition in 2022, and wanted to give another opportunity for the Forces community to voice their stories – be they about moving home, memorable events in service, special friendships and relationships, children and young people’s experiences of military life, the ups and downs and everything between.
First prize for adults is a contract with Pen & Sword publishers. Charles Hewitt, Managing Director of Pen & Sword, says:
“For many decades, memoirs have contributed an important role in our understanding of events in history, whether from the point of view of a colleague, friend or student. More recently studies have shown that the process of writing a memoir can be an extremely therapeutic experience for the writer, often helping them to overcome events which may have impacted upon their lives. Pen and Sword Books Ltd are delighted to help support Reading Force in encouraging members of the military community and others to realise the benefits of recording their memoirs.”
Entries can be memoir, or biography of a military friend, relative, or admired person (you don’t have to have known them personally). Adults are invited to submit a synopsis of their planned book (it doesn’t have to be written already), and the first two chapters of their memoir or biography up to 5,000 words. Children and young people up to age 18 can submit a piece of writing between 500 and 1,000 words depending on their age. Three winning children’s entries will be published in Army & You, Homeport, and Envoy magazines.
This competition is generously supported by legal firm Bolt Burdon Kemp:
“We are delighted that Reading Force is having a positive impact on adults, children, and the young people of our Armed Forces Community. Each person has their own individual story to share, and we look forward to reading the memoirs of all those taking part. Unleash the writer within and enjoy the experience and opportunity!”
Natasha Mason, Bolt Burdon Kemp
