Children's & YA

Looking for a literary contest in the children's or young adult category? This genre actually covers two distinct realities, and it helps to know which one applies to you.

If you're a young writer yourself, a teenager, a student, or under a certain age threshold, a number of contests are specifically designed for you. These support first steps in writing and are aimed at writers still finding their voice, not professionals.

If instead you're an adult author writing for children or teens, the process is different: you're submitting a manuscript intended for a young reader, following the narrative conventions specific to each segment, picture books, middle grade, young adult. A judging panel will evaluate your work against those specific expectations.

Deadlines vary from year to year. Always confirm the details directly on each contest's official page.

Contests for a debut children's or YA novel are among the few direct paths to a major publisher for an unpublished author. Before submitting to any contest in this category, look at past winners: the register of previously awarded work tells you far more about a judging panel's real expectations than any set of rules.