Writing for Children - Chapter Book Prize 2024

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Closes
12:00 - 01 November 2024
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You could win a valuable consultation with literary agent Julia Churchill or a critique from children's author Amy Sparkes in the Writing Magazine Children's Book Prize.

Chapter books can often be overlooked, with many writers choosing to write either picture books or middle-grade. But chapter books are tremendous fun to write and a brilliant way to encourage newly-established, young readers. Here are some facts about chapter books:

• Chapter books are aimed at 7-9 year olds and are usually between 5,000 and 15,000 words long.
• Chapters tend to be quite short, often around 500 words for the younger end of the age range, and 750-1000 words for the higher end. This is important so that young readers don’t get tired and unmotivated.
• Black and white line drawings illustrate chapter books, breaking up text and helping to bring the story alive to readers.  
• Chapter books lend themselves well to series, so creating a character who could feature in more than one story is a bonus.
• Stories can be about anything and everything: magic, fantasy, friendship, adventure, humour...anything that would appeal to young readers. And that’s quite a wide range.

What are we looking for?

The award is open to all unpublished and unagented writers and is an opportunity for you to submit your chapter book texts. We are not looking for illustrated stories or accompanying sample illustrations – please just send the story text.

Please enter, in a single document:

  • The full manuscript of your story, between 5,000 and 15,000 words.
  • A one-side, double-spaced synopsis of whole book
  • Five-line pitch of your book

For Amy Sparkes' advice and tips, see Amy's website

The closing date is 31 October


Prize

The first prize winner will be offered a consultation with top children’s fiction agent Julia Churchill, a year’s subscription to Writers Online Membership

The second prize winner will be offered a chapter book critique by Amy Sparkes through Writing Magazine Writing Courses, a year's subscription to Writers Online Membership

The third prize winner will win a year’s subscription to WM.

Rules

See the rules for this competition here

Prices
Standard Rate
£ 7.50
Subscriber/Member Rate
£ 6.00