Ascent Novel Prize - an open laptop as someone enters a competition

Children's Book Prize Terms

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Who can enter?

Ascent Children's Book Prize welcomes entries from writers across the globe, aged 18 years and over.
The competition is for writers who have no agent and have not accepted an offer of publication for a novel.
If your novel has been self-published or published without a book deal, you are still eligible to enter.
If you accept a publishing deal before the winner of the prize is announced, you will not be able to proceed in the competition and will be ineligible to win. If the top 100, long or short list has been announced, your listing will be honoured. In the event of receiving representation or a publishing contract please contact us on: info@ascentnovelprize.com
If your novel wins another competition and receives a cash prize before the winner is announced, you will be ineligible to win. Please contact us immediately on: info@ascentnovelprize.com
There is no limit to the number of times you submit, but each entry requires its own entry fee of £29.
Please note that once you have entered the prize, refunds are unavailable.

What do I enter?

For Young Adult, middle grade and chapter books, please submit up to the first 3,000 words written in English. On the same document, please include a one-line pitch and a synopsis that does not exceed one page. You may submit up to three picture books on the same document, all with a one-line pitch.
The extract must be from your original work, and must not have been created using AI. Any evidence to the contrary will result in disqualification.
Your extract should be double spaced, in black font, using Times New Roman, size 12.
Save your document using your book title only. We accept word and PDF.
Please include the title of your novel in the header and page numbers.
All entries must be anonymous. DO NOT include your name anywhere on your extract. To do so will result in disqualification.
If longlisted, we require your full children's book.

What do I win?

The winner will receive £1,000 GBP
The judge's decision is final.
The Top 100 are guaranteed a personalised paragraph of feedback.
Due to expected volume of submissions, we cannot enter into any correspondence regarding feedback. The entry fee covers the administration of the prize and the feedback given is free and for the top 100 only.
By submitting you agree to Ascent Novel Prize publishing your title and opening (up to one thousand words or first chapter) on their social media channels and/or website for publicity purposes. We will also request an interview and photograph.
After the winner has been announced, the judging panel will nominate the highest scoring writers from under-represented areas of the industry to receive our highly commended awards. Sponsors may gift prizes for these awards, which are non-transferable and there is no cash alternative.
The judging panel's decision is final and we cannot enter into any correspondence regarding this matter.

When is the winner announced?

The winner is announced on the 1st December.
Ascent Children's Book Prize is open from mid February to the 1st July.
The closing date of the prize is the 1st July at 23:59.
The top-100 are announced in August.
The long-list is announced in September.
The shortlist is announced in October.
Our highly commended awards will be announced by 1st December, following the announcement of the overall winner.
All feedback for the top 100 will be sent out within 6 months of the prize closing.
Dates are dependent upon our judging panel and therefore Ascent Novel Prize reserves the right to adjust the timings of the competition if required.

How is my work protected?

Entrants retain full copywrite of their work, but all entrants listed give Ascent Novel Prize permission to publish the opening chapter or up to 1,000 words of their work for publicity purposes on our social media channels and website.
By entering, you give Ascent Novel Prize permission to publish the title of your book and name in our listing announcements, including quotes/ opening lines that our judging panel enjoy.
Ascent Novel Prize is GDPR compliant.