Age limit: None
The Bath Children’s Novel Award is an annual international prize for emerging novelists writing for children or teens
2020 closing date: 29 November 2020
Judge: Stephanie Thwaites of Curtis Brown literary agency from a shortlist chosen by Junior Judges aged seven to seventeen
Prize: £3,000
Eligibility: unpublished, self-published and independently published writers worldwide
Shortlist prize: manuscript feedback from the Junior Judges plus literary agent introductions
Longlist prize: for the writer of the most promising longlisted manuscript, the online course Edit Your Novel the Professional Way (worth £1,800) from Cornerstones Literary Consultancy
Submissions: first 5,000 words (double-spaced in a size 12 font) plus 300 word synopsis (single -spaced in a size 12 font)
Entry fee: £28 with sponsored places available for writers on low income
The prize is open worldwide to writers of any nationality or residency.
Novels can be unpublished, self-published or independently published.
Novels should be for children who are able to read for themselves, or young adults. We do not accept picture books or graphic novels.
Full manuscripts may be of any length, however as a guide, we recommend 6-10,000 for a chapter book, 40-60,000 for middle grade and 50-70,000 words for YA (or longer for fantasy novels).
Novels must be submitted in english and the author’s own work.
Unrepresented shortlisted writers will be offered the opportunity to be introduced to an individually tailored list of literary agents by email or other means. This service is entirely free and optional.
Shortlisted novels will be announced 12th January 2021.
The winner of the Bath Children’s Novel Award 2020 will be announced on 11th February 2021.