Young writer Milo sticks it to the man in short story contest

This is the beginning of a story that has won its 12-year-old author a place in the top 50 of Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans’ 500 Words competition.

An extract from Milo Richards’ Stickquest was one of 30,000 entries to the contest, for which judges include Dame Jacqueline Wilson, Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson and comedian David Walliams.

The Myton School pupil will travel to the awards ceremony at an outside broadcast of Chris Evans’ breakfast show from the Hay Festival on June 3, but admits he finds it all hard to come to terms with.

He said: “I’m quite proud but to be honest I’m not sure if I can truly understand the hugeness of the number and the narrowness it’s come down to.”

Named after the hero of children’s novel The Phantom Tollbooth, in which a world-weary child is transported to Dictionopolis and the Word Market by a mysterious tollbooth, Milo was encouraged to write by his great-grandmother after he told her some of the ‘mini stories’ he had made up.

He cites the Phantom Tollbooth as one of his favourite books, and says he has begun reading the novels of Terry Pratchett.

Milo’s story is based on a 10,000 word version he began during breaktimes at St Paul’s Primary School. He had written 5,000 words before he told anyone and wrote at a laptop lent to him by the headteacher when he couldn’t use the school computers.

Secondary school life means Milo has not yet had time to finish Stickquest, although he does know how it will end.

But while Milo admits he enjoyed the attention the story earned him at school, and that he would like a literary career one day, he does not want to become famous yet as he is only 12.

He added: “I do want to be a writer. I have several stories I can think of.”