Competition for UK childrens book writers

[clotje]

Hiya guys,
I thought this might be of some interest to some of you!
Good luck!

www.saga.co.uk/magazine/writingMasterclass/writingMasterclass_Index.asp?PageID=8&bhcp=1 (http://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/writingMasterclass/writingMasterclass_Index.asp?PageID=8&bhcp=1)

[Stephanie]

UK residents and over the age of 50.

OK, I don't qualify in either respect, but I am not happy about the requirement of a magazine subscription (although in the fine print (http://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/writingMasterclass/writingMasterclass_Index.asp?PageID=6) it states "11. Entry to the competition is free and no purchase is required.").

Also, wasn't there something about HarperCollins on AW recently...?

[LadyLazarus]

I'm not a children's writer, but there's also a competition going on with Waterstones bookshops for children's writers... here's the blurb from the ITV This Morning website:

The Wow factor, is a competition to find the new J.K. Rowling, Roald Dahl or C.S. Lewis. The judging panel includes Fern Britton and Phillip Schofield and the amazing prize is to have your book published next year.

The wow factor

The Wow Factor is a nationwide writing competition open to anyone over the age of 16. First prize is a publishing contract with Faber; the winning book will be published in paperback in September 2006, heavily promoted and sold in Waterstone's. The winner will also receive Royalty payments and £1,000.

Competition Entry Process - Rules of Entry

To qualify for THE WOW FACTOR, entrants must be aged 16 years and over.
Entry forms are available from any local Waterstone’s branch.
Entries must be clearly aimed at either the 8-12 year-old age group or the teen market.
To enter you must submit a synopsis and the first three chapters of your work at THE WOW FACTOR OPEN HOUSE between the 15th-31st July 2005 at any Waterstone’s branch.
A full manuscript must be available for call-in by September 30th 2005.
No entries will be accepted at Waterstone’s or Faber and Faber’s head office.
Thirteen finalists will be picked in all and these regional finalists will be announced on the 30th September 2005.
Each finalist must then submit their full manuscript and these manuscripts will then be read and judged by the final judging panel.
The winner will be announced on the 1st December 2005 and their work will be published in September 2006.


Competition Prize
· Faber and Faber will publish the winning entry in paperback in September 2006 with extensive editorial, design, marketing, publicity and sales support.

· The author will receive a standard royalty rate of 7.5% of the UK recommended retail price on the first 40,000 copies sold, rising to 10% thereafter and will also receive £1,000.

· Thirteen short-listed entries will receive £200 of Waterstone’s vouchers.
· The winner’s book will be sold front of store in all Waterstone’s branches nationwide and will be supported by bespoke POS and a high profile promotional campaign and will be exclusive to Waterstone’s for a period of four months.

[Stephanie]

Thanks for that.

Here's the URL for those interested:

http://www.itv.com/page.asp?partid=3952