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New Children's Author Prize 2015

Information
Closing date: 
30 September 2014
Entry: 
Entrants must be aged 18+, a UK resident and must be previously unpublished Entries cost £15 until June 30, and £30 after that
Prize: 
A publishing contract with Bloomsbury, along with an advance of £5,000 and an exclusive print run of the new author’s work

A new writing competition to find the "next big thing" in children's literature is being launched by the UK's National Literary Trust in partnership with Bloomsbury Children's Books.

Unpublished authors who enter the competition will have the chance to win a publishing contract with Bloomsbury, along with an advance of £5,000 and an exclusive print run of the new author's work.

The winners will be selected by a panel of judges, including National Literacy TrustUK-based organisation which has campaigned since 1993 to improve literacy standards across all age groups. Excellent research information and details of the many initiatives the charity is currently involved in. www.literacytrust.org.uk. It also has a useful page of news stories on UK literacy, which links to newsletter http://www.readitswapit.co.uk/TheLibrary.aspx Director Jonathan Douglas, author and critic Nicolette Jones, Editorial Director at Bloomsbury Children's Books Ellen Holgate, and children's author Katherine Rundell, winner of the 2014 Blue Peter Book Award for Rooftoppers.

To enter, authors should submit a 20,000- to 40,000-word children's story, targeted at children aged 8 to 12, with a 350 word synopsis and a 1,000-word passage highlighted for judging in the early rounds. Entries cost £15 until June 30, and £30 after until the competition closes on September 30th.

Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust said of the competition:

"At the National Literacy Trust we work to bring reading for enjoyment and a love of books to children in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the UK. Exciting, engaging and inspiring children's literature is vital to our work, which is why we have launched this competition with Bloomsbury Publishing to help find the next ‘big thing' in children's storytelling."

Emma Hopkin, MD of Children's and Educational Publishing at Bloomsbury added:

"We are delighted to be working alongside the National Literacy Trust to find new talent. There is nothing more exciting than discovering a new author; someone who can inspire children and encourage a love of reading."

Stories should be emailed to: author.prize@literacytrust.org.uk. All proceeds from the competition go towards the National Literacy Trust's goal to tackle low literacy levels in deprived communities across the UK.

All proceeds from entry fees will help the National Literacy Trust continue our vital work improving literacy across the country. Every entrant will receive exclusive tips on writing for children from Katherine Rundell.

For more information and to send your work

 

Closing date: 
30 September 2014
Entry: 
Entrants must be aged 18+, a UK resident and must be previously unpublished Entries cost £15 until June 30, and £30 after that
Prize: 
A publishing contract with Bloomsbury, along with an advance of £5,000 and an exclusive print run of the new author’s work