Blog

We’re now halfway through the year, so technically closer to Christmas than last New Year – which means there are only 6 months left to get your manuscripts in tip-top shape and send them in to us. The deadline for entries to The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition is Friday 18^th December, so if you’re an unpublished children’s writer with a great story to tell, here’s a quick reminder on what you need to submit …

1. Your full manuscript printed on A4. Make sure the pages are numbered and the manuscript is easy to read (12pt, double spaced).

2. A covering letter, telling us a bit about yourself and why you think your novel would appeal to children.

3. A one-page synopsis. This should be clear and concise, outlining all the key plot points including the ending – we want to know everything that happens in the book!

4. A chapter-by-chapter breakdown. Keep this as brief as possible while outlining the major events – try to keep it to a couple of sentences per chapter.

5. A £15 cheque made payable to Chicken House Publishing Ltd, with your name, address, phone number and email address written clearly in capitals on the reverse.

There are a few other bits and bobs you need to know, so for full details on how to submit and to read our FAQs, visit our submissions page.

And finally, here’s Chicken House Publisher Barry Cunningham's top tips for entering …