Staróg Prize launched for Irish writers of children’s fiction

Walker Books, PaperCuts Literary Consultancy Ltd and the Sunday Independent have teamed up to create a new writing prize, open to writers of Irish nationality and those resident in Ireland and Northern Ireland.  

The Staróg Prize will award an international publishing contract with Walker Books, representation with PaperCuts, and coverage in the Sunday Independent to a new voice in children’s fiction. Two runners-up will also receive a one-year mentorship from Gráinne Clear, senior commissioning editor at Walker Books, and Polly Nolan, founder and m.d. of PaperCuts Literary Consultancy, to further develop their work.  

The award will be open to submissions from 1st May 2023 via an online form, and will close on Sunday 16th July 2023, with the longlist, shortlist and winner announced in October 2023. Submissions must be completed works of fiction in English aimed at readers between seven and 13 years of age.   

To be eligible, writers have to be unpublished and not represented by an agent, or be published authors of non-fiction and/ or poetry or fiction for adults. Self-published authors can also submit their writing, as long as the work they enter for the competition hasn’t been published anywhere previously, including online. 

The Staróg Prize, its name translating to “yarn” or “story”, is the only writing prize in Ireland solely for Irish writers of children’s fiction that offers a publishing deal and representation by an agent, according to the organisers.

The panel of judges comprises Denise Johnstone-Burt, publishing director at Walker Books, Gráinne Clear, senior commissioning editor at Walker Books, Polly Nolan, founder and m.d. of PaperCuts Literary Consultancy and Madeleine Keane, literary editor at the Sunday Independent. 

Nolan said: “Irish people are amongst the very best storytellers in the world but getting work published can feel like trying to leap across a void blindfolded – intimidating, scary and, in the eyes of some onlookers, foolish.

"It’s my sincerest hope that this prize helps writers across the land make that leap with ease so that they see their work go from notebook, laptop, copybook or pile of dog-eared paper to published novel, available in all good bookshops. I want to find great, hidden Irish writers and help them to bring their work to children around the world.” 

Clear added: “I’m incredibly proud to be part of the Staróg Prize, which will open the doors of Walker Books to new and un-agented writers across the Ireland and Northern Ireland for the first time. Some of the most remarkable voices in children’s fiction come from Ireland, many of whom we have the privilege of publishing here at Walker, and this prize is a special chance to find exciting new talent – and bring their story to children all over the world.” 

Keane also commented: "I am very honoured to be part of this exciting prize. I’ve always been passionate about the vital role reading plays in the lives of our younger generation and greatly look forward to discovering vibrant new voices in children’s fiction."