We no longer accept unsolicited manuscripts, but we do offer unpublished and unagented writers of children’s fiction the chance to submit their work to the annual Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition. We’re looking for original ideas, a fresh voice, a diverse range of entries and stories that children will love! We’d particularly like to encourage entry from writers from underrepresented backgrounds.
First prize is a worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House in this The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition 2025 with a royalty advance of £10,000. The winner will also receive a discussion of representation with this year’s agent judge, Gyamfia Osei of Andrew Nurnberg Associates Ltd.
The second prize, the Lime Pictures New Storyteller Award, is a publishing contract with a royalty advance of £7,500 plus a discussion of representation with Gyamfia Osei. The prize will be awarded to a manuscript that shows great potential for film and TV development.
To enter, you must have written a completed full-length novel suitable for children/young adults aged somewhere between 7 and 18 years. By full-length we suggest a minimum of 30,000 words and a maximum of 80,000 words. In order to enter the competition, please make sure you include your cover letter, synopsis and manuscript in one document.
Awards:-
First prize is a worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House with a royalty advance of £10,000.
The second prize, the Lime Pictures New Storyteller Award, is a publishing contract with a royalty advance of £7,500. The prize will be awarded to a manuscript that shows great potential for film and TV development.\
Deadline:- 02-05-2025
Entry fees:- The entry fee is £20.
