Letters That Matter
Write to someone, or something, that matters to you.
Closes in …
Letters That Matter invites young writers to explore the timeless art of letter writing. This competition asks you to put pen to paper and write to someone, or something, that matters to you.
That could be a deeply personal letter: to your future self, a character from a book you love, a place that means something to you, or someone you have never met. Or it could be a letter with a bigger purpose: to your school principal proposing a change, to your city’s mayor about an issue you care about, to the Prime Minister about the India you want to grow up in, or to the world about something you wish were different.
Letters have always been how ordinary people, including young people, have spoken up, asked questions, and asked for something better. This competition gives that tradition a stage.
Prompts are optional. You are free to write on any theme you choose, as long as you keep the letter format. If you would like a starting point, try a personal letter (to your future self, a favourite character, or someone you have lost touch with) or a letter for change (to your principal, your mayor, the Earth, or your future city).
Every letter submitted will be read with care. While only a few entries can be named winners, every young writer who puts their thoughts into words has already done something worth celebrating. We look forward to reading what matters to you.
How to enter
- Open to writers in India and Indian writers abroad, aged 8 to 17 (categories 8–12, 13–15, 16–17). Free to enter.
- No word limit. Write as much or as little as your letter needs.
- Write in English. It must be your own original, unpublished work, not AI-generated or plagiarised.
- Keep the letter format. A salutation ("Dear ___,") and closing ("Yours,") are encouraged, though not required for younger writers.
- Submit as a typed document (Word or Google Doc). Handwritten letters, images, and PDFs are not accepted.
- One entry per participant, submitted with parent or guardian consent on the form.
- Fill out the form and upload your letter. You will get a confirmation on WhatsApp or email.
Prizes
- One winner and one runner-up in each age category (8–12, 13–15, 16–17)
- Winner: ₹1,000 cash + ₹1,000 Crossword voucher + certificate
- Runner-up: ₹500 Crossword voucher + certificate
- Every participant receives a digital certificate, and all letters are published in our eMag
Your judges
Ms. Petunia Kingsley (Hong Kong)
English Language Educator & Executive Committee Member of EMPOWER – The Amber Foundation
Ages 13–17
An English Language educator with wide experience across the secondary and tertiary sectors, Petunia designs classrooms that encourage students to question, imagine, and reach beyond the expected. She believes education should open doors, not close them.
Nidhi Shah (Mumbai)
Educator & Reading Mentor
Ages 8–12
Nidhi is an educator and literature enthusiast with over eight years in IB education and Trinity College London certification. She runs novel-study book clubs, writing workshops, and speech and drama sessions, helping young writers find their voice.
Ready? Entries go through our secure Google Form.
Submit your entry