2026 Scribblebibble VIRAL Flash Fiction & Micro Essay results

2026 Scribblebibble Viral Flash Fiction & Micro Essay Competition Results

2026 Results

We’re excited to reveal the winners of the 2026 Scribblebibble Viral Flash Fiction and Micro Essay Competition, showcasing the imagination and writing skill of young authors from across the globe.

This annual contest, open to ages 7 to 18, attracted hundreds of entries submitted by parents, teachers, teaching assistants and tutors on behalf of young writers. Submissions came in from across the world, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, the US, and Vietnam.

Entrants were tasked with writing and sharing between 100 and 500 words, in any genre or form, based on one of Scribblebibble’s prompts. Stories, poems and nonfiction pieces were judged by a panel of writers and educators, who were on the lookout for originality, imagination, use of language, and the ability to engage with the chosen theme.

The 2026 competition drew an extraordinary range of topics. Entries included vivid descriptions of tropical paradises, contemporary protest verse, practical packing tips, the cutthroat life of a chessboard, dark and thought-provoking conversations, and the Big Bad Wolf’s response to cancel culture. Students explored description, discussion, persuasion and explanation. There were poems and stories about the state of the planet and the people living on it, alongside tropical paradises of coral, mangoes and sunlit beaches. Some writers reimagined childhood friendships through letters to their younger selves, while others escaped into forests and other invented worlds. This diversity of ideas and voices brought the competition to life.

The 2026 Winning Viral Flash Fiction and Micro Essay Entries

7-10 Age Group: “Tropical island”

Taking top honours in the youngest category is “Tropical island”, a stunning description, created using the Tropical Paradise writing prompt. The judges praised its “beautiful control of language and rhythm, with original metaphors” and added that the piece is “focused and confident – every sentence earns its place.”

Tropical island

The sand warmed the soles of my feet as I stepped onto the beach, each grain like spilled sugar clinging to my skin. Jagged rocks crouched beside me, dark and ancient, their barnacled backs slick with salt. Above them, palm fronds rattled and whispered, slicing sunlight into trembling shards. I tasted the air – briny, sharp – and it settled on my tongue. With every step, the beach sighed, a soft hush that followed me along the shoreline while gulls stitched white arcs across the sky.

Slowly, I waded into the water. Cool silk wrapped my ankles, then my calves, tugging me forward with playful fingers. The sea was a breathing giant, rising and falling against my body, lifting me until the world tilted. Sunlight shattered beneath the surface, painting my arms with moving gold. I listened to the low drum of waves and the distant click of coral, my breath loosening as I floated, weightless, rocked like a leaf on glass.

When I returned to land, the beach received me again. Wet sand darkened under my steps, firm and welcoming, while the rocks gleamed, freshly polished by the tide. I lay back beneath the palms, skin tingling, hair salted, the island closing around me like a cradle. The wind brushed my face, and the steady rhythm of waves stitched calm into the afternoon.

11-13 Age Group: A Forest Where You Can Escape To

The winning entry for ages 11-13 – also inspired by the Tropical Paradise writing prompt – stood out for its sensory detail. “A bold, immersive piece with language that feels alive – the forest is both refuge and challenge,” remarked the judges. “Original and ambitious – it takes risks with imagery and mood, and the atmosphere stays with you.”

A forest where you can escape to

The forest from the outside looks normal, but the secrets that the inside holds are unimaginable, a maze of winding trees and passageways, leaves that rustle eerily but magical as if the leaves themselves hold memories. The trees whispering can sometimes get to your head, sometimes make you go mad. Only the strong can pass. Not brute force or hardiness but a resilient brain, a mental state been broken and burned yet still standing.

The song of birds can be heard but not just any birds. The warbler’s cry is the song that echoes through the alleyways of nature like a war cry scaring those chicken-hearted, sometimes eerie crunches of a creature unknown carries the cry of the warbler.

The scent is musty stained with the punctures of time but if you get in the exact right position the scent of flowers will fill your nostrils like a breath of relief as if calm itself was injected into the air every time I get to that place it feels as if the scent is my blood, my bones my body it feels as if the world is at peace it feels like hope.

This forest may seem lonely but nothing can describe the feeling of being inside it it feels as if everything is looking upon you keeping you safe from the woes and worries of the outside world as if you could leave anytime you want but when it feels wrong to be exposed to strangers of many, the business of life outside the forest the world can be shut out for as long as you desire but you are always filled with confidence when departing as if you take a bit of the forest with you wherever you go.

Sometimes if I feel like it I stick my tongue out the taste of the air. The sweetness is surprising yet calming as if it was poison with no other consent but to nurture you, no other wish but to love you. I hope you leave this forest knowing that it will linger in your mind that it will never leave you a loner. You’ll always feel helped, you’ll always feel like nothing can leave you in despair because you will know there is that forest where you can escape to.

14-18 Age Group: “Dear ten-year-old Cass”

In the oldest age group, “Dear ten-year-old Cass”, inspired by the Letter to your 10-year-old self writing prompt, was selected as the standout submission. “A sharply observed letter that turns a small childhood moment into something universal, without ever losing its specificity,” commented the judges. “The voice is controlled and convincing – every detail feels chosen, not accidental.”

Dear ten-year-old Cass,

That nickname feels strange, doesn’t it? Believe it or not, it’s what your friends call you now. Yes, actual friends.
You are standing on the concrete floor, kicking pebbles to distract you from your fear. Your twin sister will be there too, silently crying from the contrasts between your life before and the one you are living now.

In a moment, a few girls will come to you, all giggly and excited, face flushed as if about to do something embarrassing; they will tell you about their cousin, Steven, and ask one of you to pretend your name is Stephanie, to convince him you like him. You will mistake this encounter for making a friend. Don’t mistake cruelty for friendship.

What changes you is the constant overthinking; wondering if you can be yourself or what everyone wants you to be, and what version they will like more. Your perception of reality will start to twist into something that a child should overlook: how easily laughs can turn into silence by saying the wrong thing, the slight pitch in people’s voices when being forced to be nice to you, and silence feels much safer than honesty. The hardest part is realising that the problem isn’t people being unkind, but you have to shrink, nod, and pretend to get acknowledged and earn that kindness towards you.

Don’t let the harshness of the world get to you. Speak loudly when you can, take your hood off, and stop hiding. Make some friends. Actual friends. You need to learn that putting yourself out there will not lead to punishment, but rather new opportunities, friends. Yes, actual friends.

I learned this lesson later than I should have, but not completely; bad habits always have a way of finding you. You would be proud to know I wear skirts now, pearl earrings, and a pink bow in my hair to school. And I am not ashamed that my favorite color is pink. You don’t need to put on a mask to fit in; your true friends will love who you are and your ideas.

You will leave that primary school with nothing but a bitter heart, but glad you finally escaped. No friends. Don’t hold yourself back, Cass, you have nothing to be ashamed of, not your skin color, not your femininity, and especially not your dignity.

Your future self is eager to see you bloom, flourish, and be unapologetic. She is proud of you and how far you will come.

2026 Viral Round-Up

Writing from Five Continents

The international scope of the competition was clear, with entries arriving from across five continents. As a viral flash fiction and micro essay competition, it drew a wide mix of forms and voices. “We loved seeing flash fiction alongside micro essays – the variety of perspectives and subject matter was exceptional,” said the Scribblebibble panel. “From imaginative narratives to sharp, thoughtful nonfiction, the standard made judging both demanding and rewarding.”

A Certificate for Every Young Writer

While only three written entries could be selected as overall winners, several entries were highly commended, and every participant received a certificate to mark their achievement. Parents and schools are encouraged to celebrate locally in line with their school’s privacy and data protection requirements.

“It takes confidence to submit your work to any competition,” said one judge. “We hope every entrant keeps writing – whether that’s crafting short fiction, shaping an argument, or experimenting with new ideas.”

2026 Entries Now Open

Scribblebibble’s annual writing competition is now open for 2026 entries. Entries for the 2026 writing competition are open from February 1st to June 30th. For more information, contact the Scribblebibble team.

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