URSULA MORAY WILLIAMS
CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION 2025
Information and Rules
Ursula Moray Williams (1911-2006) was an English children’s author and illustrator of nearly 70 books for children. She visited Timaru in 1980 and donated a cup for a creative writing competition. Timaru District Libraries, with the support of the Friends of the Library, offer children and teens living within the South Canterbury district the chance to show off their writing skills and enter the 2025 Ursula Moray Williams Creative Writing Competition. The competition is open to students who are in Years 1 to 13, or if home-educated, are 5 to 18 years old.
There are five categories:
Years 1 to 3
Years 4 to 6
Years 7 to 8
Years 9 to 10
Years 11 to 13
The Ursula Moray Williams Cup will be awarded to the best overall story in the Years 1 to 8 categories. The Friends of the Library Cup will be awarded to the best overall story in the Years 9 to 13 categories. The winning stories in each age category will also be added to the content of our Short Story Dispenser.
Download a copy of the entry form here
Important information that you need to know:
● Write an original story of no more than 500 words on any subject. No generative AI (ChatGPT etc) may be used. The story must be writer’s own work.
● Stories will be judged on originality, language skills, characterisation and story
construction
● One entry per person please
● Entry forms are available at Timaru District Libraries or may be downloaded above
● A completed entry form must accompany the story
● Typed stories are encouraged
● Timaru District Council employees and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter
● Entries close at 6.00pm on Friday 15th August 2025
● Prize giving to be held at the Timaru Children’s Library on Friday 19th September 2025 at 5.00pm.
Entries may be handed in at Timaru, Temuka or Geraldine Libraries
or posted to:
Timaru, 7940
or a downloaded copy (not a link) emailed to: librarycompetitions@timdc.govt.nz
Entries close at 6.00pm on Friday 15th August, 2025