A WREXHAM writer who struggled creatively during the first lockdown, has celebrated after receiving a highly commented award.

The winners of the Young Walter Scott Prize, a UK-wide historical writing prize for 11-19 year olds, were announced earlier this month.

The judges have selected a total of ten young writers to honour with an award which challenges young people to write a piece of short fiction set in a time before they were born. This year saw a dramatic increase in the number of entries, following an outpouring of creativity during the lockdown period.

Holly Thorpe, 17, from Wrexham received a highly commended award in the 16-19 Years category for the Young Walter Scott Prize.

The teen said: “Honestly, for the first lockdown, I wasn’t very creative at all. I hardly read, I felt flat, I just didn't do much of anything. I guess a lot of people felt like that.

“It was nice to be able to not worry about doing anything for a while, but not worrying turned into not really feeling much at all. But when I started college in September, and definitely by the time the second lockdown started, I’d begun to read more and began writing again, especially after submitting my work for this prize and realised how much I’d missed it.

“I’m almost glad I didn't do it for a while because it’s made me realise just how much I enjoy it. Doing something that was just for me, wrapped in a blanket, typing out a scene about some weird fight situation or whatever I felt like that day, made me feel better. Writing helped me feel like I could actually do stuff again, so that’s cool.”

Chair of the Judging panel Elizabeth Laird added: “The Young Walter Scott Prize’s constituency – writers aged between 11 and 19 – was particularly hard hit by last summer’s lockdown, adapting to home schooling, negotiating the chaos around the exam system, unable to access libraries, and with many of the buildings and settings which have inspired so many of them closed to the public.

“But instead of the number of entries taking a hit, it more than doubled. What a privilege to read so many outstanding stories, the best of which resulted from rigorous research informing rich imaginations, blended with curiosity and empathy.

“These winners aren’t just recounting old stories, they’re taking stories from the past and making readers of the present sit up and think. Thanks to all those who entered, and to all those who supported their entries, and huge congratulations to our winners.”