Children’s Fiction Competition and a Chance to Win Valuable Prizes

Chicken House is pleased to announce the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition, which is looking for original ideas, a fresh voice, and a diverse range of entries and stories that children will love. If you have an exciting story for 7-to-18-year-olds, submit your manuscript and you will have a unique chance to win fantastic prizes.

If you are among the winners, you will have one of the following prizes:

• First prize:
• a worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House with a royalty advance of £10,000
• an offer of representation by this year’s agent judge, Davinia Andrew-Lynch of Curtis Brown. 
• Second prize, the Lime Pictures New Storyteller Award:
• a publishing contract with a royalty advance of £7,500.
• an offer of representation by Davinia Andrew-Lynch.

You should follow the following criteria:

• The competition is open to all entrants aged 18 or over, except employees of Times Newspapers Limited ('TNL'), Lime Pictures Limited (‘Lime’), Chicken House Publishing Limited ('Chicken House'), and their associated, or anyone connected in any way whatsoever with this competition.
• The entry should be suitable for a worldwide children’s audience aged between 7 and 18.
• The entry must be a full-length manuscript.
• Each entry must be accompanied by a brief synopsis and a letter of submission explaining the book’s appeal to children.
• Picture books and graphic novels will not be accepted and illustrations will not be considered but may be included. 
• Entries must be written in English.
• Entries must be the original work of the entrant and not previously commercially published and distributed (self-published works are allowed).
• Entry is limited to one per person.
• Entries must be either submitted online or sent by post. 
• A cheque for £20.00 (incl. VAT) must accompany each postal entry, made out to Chicken House Publishing Ltd.
• The fee is non-returnable and is a condition of entry. 

Competition Timeline:

• The annual competition opens on 1 December 2022. 
• The deadline for entries will be on 1 June 2023.
• The winners will be notified by the end of November 2023.

Selection Criteria:

Your story should demonstrate:

• The greatest entertainment value.
• Quality, and Originality.
• Suitability for children.
• Great potential for film and TV development.

About Chicken House:

Chicken House is a small, highly individual children’s book publishing company with an enthusiasm for new fiction. Chicken House books have found huge popularity with children, parents, teachers, and librarians around the world.

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