THE TIMES/CHICKEN HOUSE CHILDREN'S FICTION COMPETITION

Are you a secret storyteller? Now’s the time to let your talent out into the open. The Times and Chicken House are on a mission to find another great undiscovered children’s writer, whose novel will be published by Chicken House around the world!

HOW TO ENTER - Competition Terms and Conditions

1. The competition will run from March 27 to October 29, 2010.

2. Closing date for entries is last mail delivery October 29, 2010.

3. Unless otherwise stated, the competition is open to all entrants aged 18 or over, except employees of Times Newspapers Limited (“TNL”), Chicken House Publishing Limited (“Chicken House”) and their associated, affiliated or subsidiary companies, and their families, agents, or anyone connected in any way whatsoever with this competition.

4. Entry is limited to one per person. Entries must be by post, email submissions will be rejected. Entries must be sent to The Chicken House, 2 Palmer Street, Frome, Somerset, BA11 1DS marked “Children’s Fiction Competition”. Entries must be clearly labelled with the entrant’s full name and contact details (including an address and telephone number) and must be received by the last post delivery on October 29, 2010.

5. By entering, all eligible entrants agree to abide by each and all these terms and conditions. The Promoters (as referred to in term 20 below) reserve the right, with or without cause, to exclude entrants and withhold prizes for violating any of these terms and conditions. The Promoters reserve the right to amend these terms and conditions. Any amendments will be published on the Website timesonline.co.uk/chickenhouse 

6. Submission Criteria
Entries must be the original work of the entrant and not previously published. The entrant must not have previously authored or published any whole book in any country, whether fiction or nonfiction, but may have authored or published an essay or story in an anthology. The entrant must personally submit the entry: any submissions from or found to be from agents will be void and rejected. Entries submitted in previous years are ineligible. The entry must be a full-length manuscript of no more than 80,000 words. The entry should be suitable for a worldwide children’s audience aged between 9 and 16. Each entry must be accompanied by a brief synopsis, plot plan and a letter of submission explaining the book’s appeal to children. (A plot plan is a chapter-by-chapter breakdown, with a couple of sentences on each, paying attention to the roles of the main characters, dramatic high points, and the most important strands of the plot. The synopsis should be no more than a page, and should give an overview of the complete story, including key characters, events and settings.)

Picture books and graphic novels will not be accepted and illustrations will not be considered. Entries must be written in English, typed, double-line spaced, with numbered pages. Entries that do not meet these criteria will not be read.

Entries should be secured using elastic bands and placed in a cardboard wallet (not a ring-binder or lever-arch file). The entrant must retain their own copy as no entries will be returned. Entries will be acknowledged only if accompanied by a stamped, addressed postcard, placed at the front of the cardboard wallet, clearly visible. If entrants who have included a postcard have not received confirmation of receipt 28 days after submission, they should assume their entry has not been received. Entrants in this position may resubmit their manuscript with proof of prior entry postage. There will be no feedback on any entries, either during or after the competition.

7. There will be one prize winner. Subject to submission of a suitable creditworthy entry (as referred to below), the prize is the offer of a worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House (which shall be subject to negotiation and completion between Chicken House and the winner. If the negotiations between the parties fail, then the winner will receive the alternative prize set out below). The winner will be the entrant whose story, in the opinion of the judges, demonstrates the greatest entertainment value, quality and originality and suitable for a children’s (aged 9-14) story. However, in the event the judges in their sole opinion determine that none of the entries are suitably creditworthy for a worldwide publishing contract the Promoters shall none the less select the best entry in accordance with these terms and conditions and award an alternative prize namely, a full and detailed editorial consultation with Barry Cunningham and The Chicken House Editorial team, including creative and technical advice on their entry.

8. Entrants retain all rights to their entries, except in the case of the winner to whom a publishing contract will be offered (as referred to in term 7 above). The winner will retain the copyright to the work and shall exclusively license worldwide publishing rights in the entry to Chicken House Publishing Limited on completion of the publishing contract. The publishing contract with the winner will be in line with industry standards for a debut children’s novel with a Royalty Advance of £10,000. The winner will also receive an offer of representation from The Christopher Little Literary Agency.

Further details here.

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