“Shopping” Daniel Owen Festival’s Young Writers’ Competition 2026

The Gŵyl Daniel Owen Festival Young Writers’ Competition is open annually to all 11–18

year-olds who live or study in Flintshire. Celebrating creative writing in all its forms, from

stories and poetry to song lyrics and spoken word, the competition continues to champion

diverse voices and storytelling styles.

Using this year’s theme, ‘Shopping’, participants can choose to write fiction or non-fiction,

in Welsh or English of up to 300 words. It’s your chance to be imaginative and show your

writing skills.

The competition commemorates the life and works of Daniel Owen, who is generally

regarded as the foremost Welsh-language novelist of the 19th century and the first

significant novelist to write in Welsh. He was born in 1836 in Mold, Flintshire.

Why pick ‘Shopping’ as a topical theme?

Because Daniel Owen worked as a tailor in a tailor’s shop in Mold for much of his life while

writing novels – including ‘Rhys Lewis’ and ‘Enoc Huws’

. He was not a remote literary figure

but a working craftsman, making and selling clothes and hats, to people in the Town.

He was just 14 years old when his apprenticeship as a tailor started with Angel Jones & Son

of Mold, at their shop on the High Street. In 1875 he opened his own shop on New Street in

partnership with James Lloyd called ‘Owen and Lloyd – Hatters & Outfitters’.

Eirian Conlon, chair of the Gŵyl Daniel Owen Festival said, “Just like Victorian times,

shopping is still very much part of our lives. We hope that by choosing a topical theme it will

inspire young people’s interest and creative ideas.”

For the fourth year running we’ve been able to offer creative writing workshops to Flintshire

high schools, thanks to an award from Community Foundation Wales and the Gwendoline

and Margaret Davies Charity.

”

The competition closing date is midnight on Sunday 27 September and entries will be

judged by established writers.

A short list will be created and entrants will be notified by 11 October. All short listed

entrants will be invited to read from their submissions or have extracts read on Tuesday 21

October at Poems, Prose and Prizes in Caffi Isa.

During this Daniel Owen Festival event, the winner in each of the Welsh and English

categories will be presented with a glass trophy and each of the two runners up with a book

token.

Send us your story, poetry, song lyrics or spoken word to

and you could be in with the chance of winning one of

the prizes!

This year’s Daniel Owen Festival takes place from 14 to 25 October. A week packed with

literature, music, spoken word, local history and live performances – something for

everyone to enjoy. www.danielowenfestival.com