Have you a manuscript hidden at the back of the wardrobe? Have you been scribbling in a shed at the bottom of the garden? Have you been making up brilliant bedtime stories? Now’s your chance to see your name on the cover of a book!

The Times and Chicken House are launching a competition to find a great undiscovered children’s writer. Our judges will choose one winner, whose novel will be published by Chicken House.

HOW TO ENTER

Send your manuscript (see submissions criteria below) to The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition, Books, The Times, 1 Pennington Street, London E98 1TT. You must include your name, address and telephone number. If you want acknowledgement of receipt, please include a stamped addressed postcard, which we will send back to you. It may take 28 days after sending your entry for the acknowledgement to reach you. Entries must be received by the last post delivery on Saturday November 17, 2007. E-mail submissions will not be accepted.

THE SHORTLIST

The Chicken House reading team will select a shortlist of five entries, to be announced in February 2008. The judges will choose a winner from this shortlist, to be announced at Easter 2008. Keep an eye on timesonline.co.uk/childrensauthor for up-to-date information.

THE PRIZE

The winner will be the entrant whose story, in the opinion of the judges, demonstrates the greatest entertainment value, quality and originality. The prize is the offer of a worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House, which shall be subject to negotiation and completion between Chicken House and the winner.

THE JUDGES

Malorie Blackman, the bestselling children’s author

Amanda Craig, children’s books reviewer for the The Times

Wayne Winstone, children’s manager, Waterstone’s booksellers.

Karen Robinson, children’s and young people’s librarian, Tower Hamlets, London

Barry Cunningham, managing director, Chicken House Publishing Ltd.

SUBMISSION CRITERIA

Entries must be the original work of the entrant and not previously published. The entrant must not have previously published any book in any country, whether fiction or nonfiction. The entrant must personally submit the entry; any submissions from, or found to be from agents, will be void and rejected. The entry must be a full-length manuscript of no more than 80,000 words. The entry should be suitable for a worldwide children’s audience aged 9 to 16 and the entry may centre on any subject or fit any genre. Each entry must be accompanied by a brief synopsis, plot-plan 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. Entries must be written in English, typed, double-spaced, ring-bound and clearly labelled with the entrant’s full name and contact details (including an address and telephone number). The entrant must retain their own copy, as no entries will be returned.

Please click here for full terms and conditions

Submissions: frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a plot-plan and a synopsis?

Ideally, a plot-plan should include a chapter-by-chapter breakdown that pays particular attention to: the roles of the main characters, dramatic high points, and the most important strands of the plot. The author should not write much more than a couple of sentences on each chapter.

The synopsis should be brief (no more than a page) and should give an overview of the complete story including key characters, events and settings.

What does “ring-bound” mean?

“Ring-bound” means presented in a ring-bound folder: a hard folder with metal rings holding together hole-punched pages. But any folder or binding which makes the manuscript easily readable is acceptable – the important thing is not to send loose pages.

I have self-published a book in the past. Can I enter the competition?

Unfortunately not. You must not have published a book in any form, in any country, whether fiction or non-fiction. In this case a “book” refers to a printed work of which you are the author. If your work has only appeared in newspapers, magazines, story or essay collections, or in electronic format (ie online) then you are eligible to enter.

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