ESSEX Book Festival 2021 is to launch its first ever flash fiction competition for all those budding creative writers out there - and 20 locations chosen across the county to inspire you include three in beautiful Maldon district.

Flash fiction is creative writing that's - well, short - in this case between 50 and 250 words.

The festival is partnering with Explore Essex on the new Story Hunters Project. The idea is to get people of all ages exploring our beautiful county and its heritage - and at the same time express themselves creatively.

Entrants need to visit one or more of 20 designated locations across Essex and then transform that experience into a piece of original flash fiction that will be uploaded on the festival website - and entered into the Story Hunters Flash Fiction Competition.

The deadline is 12pm, 15th August. Winning stories will be announced at the festival's Essex Book Camp hosted by Cressing Temple Barns on Sunday, 29 August.

Four creative writing workshops will be held to help inspire budding writers. These will take place at Jaywick Martello Tower, Danbury Country Park, Cressing Temple Barns, and Hadleigh Country Park, with each workshop including a guided tour.

Entry is open to all ages and there are two categories:

-Under 16s

-16 and Over.

There are a number of rules to follow - and some great prizes, too - so it's really important to visit the Essex Book Festival website to check out everything you need to know before you start writing your entry. You can find the website at the link here or email: [email protected] for more information on the competition and all the Essex Book Festival activities this year.

The locations selected for the Story Hunters Project include:

-The Hythe Quay, Maldon

-St Peter's on the Wall Church, Bradwell-on-Sea, CM0 7PW

-Beeleigh Steam Mill, Maldon, CM9 6LJ

-Danbury Country Park, CM8 3DG

-Essex Record Office, Chelmsford, CM2 6YT

-Stock Tower Mill, Ingatestone, CM4 9RY

-Cudmore Grove Country Park, East Mersea, CO5 8UE

-Flitch Way, Braintree, CM77 7FS

-Southend-on-Sea Pier, SS1 2EE

-Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea, SS16 4UH

-Thorndon Country Park, Brentwood, CM13 3RZ

-Harwich Redoubt, COR 3LT

-Harlow Museum, CM20 2LF

-Colchester Castle, CO1 1TJ

-Roman Circus Centre, Colchester, CO2 7GT

-Hylands House & Gardens, Chelmsford, CM2 8WQ

-Epping Forest Visitor Centre, IG10 4AF

-Hadleigh Country Park, SS7 2PP

-Cressing Temple Barns, CM77 8PD

-Jaywick Martello Tower, C015 2LF.

-The competition will be judged by Festival Director Ros Green and novelist Dr Jonathan Crane.