Cheshire Novel Prize launches inaugural children’s award

The Cheshire Novel Prize has launched its inaugural children’s prize for unagented, unpublished children’s writers.

The prize is open for entries worldwide for picture books, first chapter books, middle grade novels, YA, and Children’s fantasy, and closes on 31st December 2023.

The winner will receive £1,500 and one highly commended writer will receive £500. Self-published writers are welcome to apply and there are a number of sponsored places available for underrepresented writers.

As with its sister prize, The Cheshire Novel Prize, every entrant will receive feedback and the prize will deliver free resources such as Instagram lives, giveaways and author interviews throughout November and December 2023.

This year’s judges include Amina Youssef, senior commissioning editor from Simon & Schuster Children’s books; Julia Churchill, literary agent from A M Heath; Chloe Seager Literary agent from Madeleine Milburn; and children’s writer Ben Dean.

Cheshire Novel Prize Kids founder Sara Cox said: “We are really excited about the kids’ prize and are delighted to offer children’s writers a prize where every entrant gets feedback regardless of where they are placed. Feedback is so important to help writers with their work.

“And, because reading can be subjective we have invested in four industry specific judges who really understand the marketplace. We are also really excited to get four primary schools and one high school involved in the judging of the prize.” Information can be found here.