FONS supports Critical Writing Competition
August 19, 2026
FONS is proud to support partnerships with the local community

The Laurie Herring Prize has been running since 2022 and is a unique writing competition for young people which encourages critical observation. Each year the organisers hope to increase participation and to spread awareness both locally and nationally.
Laurie Herring's mother said in advance of the event:
The prize was created in memory of my teenage son Laurie by his school and we’re delighted that this year’s judge is the award-winning writer, director and producer Dan Clifton. The awards evening will be held on 20th March next year at the home to the National Centre for Writing, Dragon Hall, in Norwich. And following in the footsteps of the brilliant writers and broadcasters Jay Rayner and Justine Picardie, this year's guest speaker will be the young writer Grace Murray (a school friend of Laurie’s – they sat together in English) whose debut novel "Blank Canvas" will be published by Penguin in Jan 26. If you can, please repost or share with the young people in your networks – with the Christmas break coming there’ll be lots for the aspiring critics to feast on.
The FONS have generously funded £450 towards the costs of the Prize.










