

Here at the Nick in Time, we reckon every kid can write – and write brilliantly! What’s tricky is finding something to write about...
That’s why we’re suckers for history. It’s jammed with stories crying out for a spectacular modern spin – or mysteries you can ‘solve’ with a bit of imagination. If you need a plot or a cast of characters, it’s got it all!
Don’t believe us? Grab your pen (or your laptop) and enter our writing contest. You can write anything - a short story, or a scene for a film or poem – just as long as there’s some exciting connection to the past. Take inspiration from the ideas below, or come up with something entirely your own.
Email us your entry by 1 Sept, and we’ll post our favourites here. The winning entry will get a £40 Waterstones voucher AND a brilliant, original illustration for their story from Nick in Time illustrator Poppy.

The British Museum in London is like a temple to history! (It’s even got colonnades).

This massive museum looks after some of the most amazing artefacts EVER produced. We’ve picked two to get your creative tastebuds watering. (Just their descriptions got our imaginations fired up!)
Whatever you’re inspired to write - a horror story or a fairy tale; a funny sketch or a romantic poem - send it into to us. We promise we’ll find it THE most exciting thing to happen to us all week! Our faves will get posted here, and our SUPER FAVE will win a walloping great Waterstones voucher.

An assistant to the Judge of Hell (from the Ming Dynasty, China. This sculpture was crafted in the 16th/17th Century using paint and ceramic (so a bit like the teapot your Gran drinks from today. Only waaaaay scarier!)

Dunstable Swan Jewel, made in France or England. Can you see the golden crown chained round the swan’s neck. What do YOU think is the story behind it? Is the beautiful bird wearing it as a jewellery? Or is the proud swan a prisoner, doomed never to fly again..?
Get creative with history, and let your imaginations soar!


Amelia Earhart, born July 24, 1897, was a legendary aviator and female pioneer. In an era when flying was largely dominated by men, Amelia became a celebrity, breaking many records including First Woman to Fly Across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1935 she planned a flight around the world, setting off on what would have been the longest route ever accomplished by a man or woman, but she vanished from the skies somewhere over the Pacific. Her disappearance remains one of the greatest mysteries of all time.
Can you write What Happened Next ...?!


Here's Some History-Inspired creativity writing from the Nick in Time gang to get you started:
King Charles I: A Cautionary Tale
There was an English king called Charles the First
Of all the kings he was the worst
He ignored the people when they started to moan,
So they got dead cross, and pushed him off the throne.
A civil war began and was bitterly fought
Until Oliver Cromwell won and Charles was caught.
Still he refused to bow his head,
So the people chopped it off instead.
Napoleon, drawn by David Street
(aged 76, because some kids never grow up!)

Empress Matilda by Lucy Clarke, 13
Lucy Clark, 13, has sent in her drawing of her Empress Matilda. Lucy was inspired to sketch the Medieval English noblewoman after listening to a podcast about her. Lucy wrote to us about what she’d learnt:
‘Matilda was in line to inherit the English throne (way, way back!) But the throne got taken away from her, so she led a Civil War to get it back, and won it for her son.’
What Lucy likes about Matilda is the way 'she didn’t let other people boss her about’ and (get this) she even married the Pope. Yep, you could do that back in the 12th Century! Matilda, however, was 'the first ever Pope’s wife to declare herself Empress'. Pretty Empressive, we agree!


Here at the Nick in Time, we reckon every kid can write – and write brilliantly! What’s tricky is finding something to write about...
That’s why we’re suckers for history. It’s jammed with stories crying out for a spectacular modern spin – or mysteries you can ‘solve’ with a bit of imagination. If you need a plot or a cast of characters, it’s got it all!
Don’t believe us? Grab your pen (or your laptop) and enter our writing contest. You can write anything - a short story, or a scene for a film or poem – just as long as there’s some exciting connection to the past. Take inspiration from the ideas below, or come up with something entirely your own.
Email us your entry by 1 Sept, and we’ll post our favourites here. The winning entry will get a £40 Waterstones voucher AND a brilliant, original illustration for their story from Nick in Time illustrator Poppy.

The British Museum in London is like a temple to history! (It’s even got colonnades).

This massive museum looks after some of the most amazing artefacts EVER produced. We’ve picked two to get your creative tastebuds watering. (Just their descriptions got our imaginations fired up!)
Whatever you’re inspired to write - a horror story or a fairy tale; a funny sketch or a romantic poem - send it into to us. We promise we’ll find it THE most exciting thing to happen to us all week! Our faves will get posted here, and our SUPER FAVE will win a walloping great Waterstones voucher.

An assistant to the Judge of Hell (from the Ming Dynasty, China. This sculpture was crafted in the 16th/17th Century using paint and ceramic (so a bit like the teapot your Gran drinks from today. Only waaaaay scarier!)

Dunstable Swan Jewel, made in France or England. Can you see the golden crown chained round the swan’s neck. What do YOU think is the story behind it? Is the beautiful bird wearing it as a jewellery? Or is the proud swan a prisoner, doomed never to fly again..?
Get creative with history, and let your imaginations soar!


Amelia Earhart, born July 24, 1897, was a legendary aviator and female pioneer. In an era when flying was largely dominated by men, Amelia became a celebrity, breaking many records including First Woman to Fly Across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1935 she planned a flight around the world, setting off on what would have been the longest route ever accomplished by a man or woman, but she vanished from the skies somewhere over the Pacific. Her disappearance remains one of the greatest mysteries of all time.
Can you write What Happened Next ...?!


Here's Some History-Inspired creativity writing from the Nick in Time gang to get you started:
King Charles I: A Cautionary Tale
There was an English king called Charles the First
Of all the kings he was the worst
He ignored the people when they started to moan,
So they got dead cross, and pushed him off the throne.
A civil war began and was bitterly fought
Until Oliver Cromwell won and Charles was caught.
Still he refused to bow his head,
So the people chopped it off instead.
Napoleon, drawn by David Street
(aged 76, because some kids never grow up!)

Empress Matilda by Lucy Clarke, 13
Lucy Clark, 13, has sent in her drawing of her Empress Matilda. Lucy was inspired to sketch the Medieval English noblewoman after listening to a podcast about her. Lucy wrote to us about what she’d learnt:
‘Matilda was in line to inherit the English throne (way, way back!) But the throne got taken away from her, so she led a Civil War to get it back, and won it for her son.’
What Lucy likes about Matilda is the way 'she didn’t let other people boss her about’ and (get this) she even married the Pope. Yep, you could do that back in the 12th Century! Matilda, however, was 'the first ever Pope’s wife to declare herself Empress'. Pretty Empressive, we agree!


Email us to get more ideas for history fun. BE FIRST to read new Nick in Time chapters as we write ‘em!
Email us to get more ideas for history fun. BE FIRST to read new Nick in Time chapters as we write ‘em!

