All publishers get streams of envelopes after the summer holidays, when writers feel that something must finally be done with that story they’ve been working on. But be warned – not every publisher reads unsolicited manuscripts, so our competition is one way to be considered by a publisher that has a reputation for discovering new talent!

Chicken House was founded by Barry Cunningham, best known for discovering J. K. Rowling, and is run by a small, hardworking team in Somerset. Among their successes, Chicken House first brought the bestselling German writer Cornelia Funke to English-speaking children. Her outstanding Inkheart trilogy was has been described as “a parallel world to rival Tolkien’s”, and is soon to be a major film.

Their other star authors include prizewinners Stuart Hill ( Cry of the Icemark) and Kevin Brooks ( Martyn Pig), and first-timers Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams, who have attracted headlines with their subterranean big read Tunnels.

So what works? For Chicken House, it’s simple: forget last year's trends and trying to speculate, find your own voice, remember how it felt to be a child, and write from the heart. The market remains delightfully unpredictable – although very crowded.

BARRY CUNNINGHAM’S TOP TIPS

Work out a rough structure – especially the end, so you know where you’re going!

Think about your target audience: who are they? What did you like to read at their age?

Think about how you felt when you were the same age as your cast – worries, excitements, concerns – and integrate them into your story view.

Describe what the characters look like, children love to “see” them.

Start your story where the action begins. Set the background later.

Remember what makes the child in you laugh – humour is important.

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