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Hot on the heels of our 2022 winner's announcement, we’re so excited to share that the submissions portal for the Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition 2023 is OPEN!

We can't believe it's that time of year again – we're so excited to see all of the bright ideas that have flourished over the last year. Here's the low-down on the two prizes up for grabs this year …

The Times/Chicken House Prize

The prize you already know and love – a worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House with a £10,000 advance (subject to contract) for a complete fiction manuscript of any genre for children aged 7 up to YA. The winning entry will be the novel that, in the opinion of the judges, demonstrates the greatest entertainment value, quality, originality and suitability for children. The winner will also be offered representation by Davinia Andrew-Lynch of Andlynt. 

The Lime Pictures New Storyteller Award

This year, we are introducing the Lime Pictures New Storyteller Award, a bespoke prize sponsored by leading TV production company Lime Pictures, awarded to the submission which shows the greatest TV development potential and chosen by Chicken House Publisher Barry Cunningham and Lime Pictures’ Tim Compton. The winner will receive a £7,500 publishing contract plus an offer of representation – yippee!

The good news is, you don’t need to do anything extra to be considered for the Lime Pictures New Storyteller Award; simply enter the competition as normal and our expert team of readers will do the rest. Simple!

The competition is open RIGHT NOW and the deadline is 1st June 2023 at 11.59pm GMT. So absolutely NO EXCUSES - grab that manuscript, or a completely fresh slate, and get writing – we can't wait to read all of the brilliant stories that are just waiting to be read.

For more details on the competition, both prizes, and instructions on how to enter, please visit our submissions page. Good luck, writers!