Frequently Asked Questions

Every writer who enters Cheshire Novel Prize Kids will receive a page of feedback from our panel of readers. Feedback goes out after we have announced our longlist. Please bear with us in terms of timelines on this. We will be as quick as we can, but a quick turnaround will be dependant on the number of entries we receive. Please note that Feedback will go out until 30th August 2025. Our feedback is thorough and takes time and so please be patient. If you have not received it by August 2025, please email us with the name of your work on: entry@cheshirenovelprizekids.com

Writers making the long-list but not the shortlist, will receive a couple of written sentences of feedback from each of our 6 judges. Writers making the shortlist, but not winning either first prize or highly commended, will each receive written feedback from our judges. Please note, CNP Kids, nor the judges cannot enter into any correspondence about the feedback given. The feedback is intended to help you to understand why on this occasion your novel did not go forward to either the longlist, shortlist or go on to win the competition.

Our feedback highlights specific areas you may need to look at and provides general guidelines around how you could improve your novel. With the amount of entrants we are hoping to attract, it is impossible to provide line edits, specific areas in the manuscript where these points may apply, or in-depth feedback. The cost of our entry fee covers administration, prize money, judging panel, agent showcase and readers and editors to collate feedback. Therefore this is a great opportunity to receive feedback on your opening chapters which is included in your entry fee of £29.00. Please understand that all feedback is subjective, and our opinions may not be the same as other literary prizes/agents/literary consultancies and for this reason, we cannot enter into any correspondence or respond to specific questions about your feedback unless you don’t receive it.

Please send your work in a word document only with a 500 word synopsis pasted at the end of your excerpt. We do not accept PDF's. If submitting picture books you may submit 3 and so please paste each synopsis at the end of each picture book clearly entitled synopsis and including the name of the picture book it refers to. Your work should be 1.5 spaced and size 12 font and in Times New Roman. Please include your plot spoilers in your synopsis. Your synopsis will not be published at any time.

Take a look at our Writing Tips page for handy hints on how to write a synopsis. There is no fixed format for the synopsis - this is left to the discretion of the writer.

The title is for administration purposes only. Should you be longlisted you will have the opportunity to amend the title if you want to.

Yes, you can still enter.

Yes – it is possible to pay via bank transfer. Please send a short email to entry@cheshirenovelprize.com and we will send you the necessary payment information.

Please note that the entry fee must be received BEFORE the deadline of midnight on 1st January 2025, for the entry to be considered, so please allow time for your payment to be received and clear.

No, we’re sorry. Unfortunately this competition is not open to short stories. We are open to Picture books, Chapter books (early readers) Middle grade, YA and children’s fantasy novels. Please see our rules of entry for genre age guidelines by genre.

It’s worth trying another internet browser e.g. Chrome or Firefox.

You’ll get an automated “thank-you for your entry” email. If you have any concerns, please get in touch at: entry@cheshirenovelprize.com

All entry fees need to be received by 12 (midnight) on 1st January 2025.

This information must be added to the entry form (both your legal name and your pen name). However, you are welcome to use your pen name on your entry and on any marketing should you be long-listed or shortlisted or win the competition if you wish; this is optional.

Yes as long as you are un-agented at the time of entry and you have never accepted a traditional publishing deal or/and, an advance.

Yes, you can enter as many competitons as you wish. However if you win a competition please do let us know.

Please use font size 12 and line spacing of 1.5.

Don’t worry, we collect information about your submission separately to your repayment details. We then match up your payment to your entry using your Entry ID, so the name on your card really doesn’t affect your submission.

No problem, we don’t use PayPal. Instead, we take card payments through our online portal. Simply follow the instructions on our submission page. We use Stripe as a card payment processor which is a secure, regulated platform.

Please send an email to entry@cheshirenovelprizekids.com and we will send you further information for email submissions.

Your files should not be too big if you are submitting in word and if submitting the required word count. Please check that there are no illustrations or artwork included in your submission and if there are, please remove these. Also do check that you are submitting only in word. We also suggest you refresh your browser and try again.

If you still cannot upload your submission, please send an email to entry@cheshirenovelprizekids.com before we close on 31st December 2023.

We require writers to have finished their novel by the long-list announcement of the 28th February 2024.

To apply, please select the complete the ‘Sponsored Entry’ online application form.

Check our criteria on rules of entry. We will confirm if you have met the criteria for a sponsored entry. All details will be kept confidential.

Please get in touch - email: entry@cheshirenovelprizekids.com

Once you have entered the prize, your work will be assigned and read immediately, so please make sure you are happy with it before you click on ‘submit’. If you want to withdraw your entry, and resubmit, then you will need to obtain a new Unique ID number.

Check your spam/junk folder for the email that contains your Unique ID number. The process is automated, so if your payment went through then you will have received the email. Please check your accounts to make sure the payment has been made. If you still cannot find us you can go to our submissions page on our website and there is an option ‘I can’t find my unique ID.’ If you click on that option, we will be able to generate the ID for you.

If you realise you have made a technical error (perhaps submitted the wrong document, not anonymised your work etc) then there is a small window of opportunity for you to contact us. We will do our best to respond and help you rectify any issues, if you contact us within 24 hours of your original submission at the email address entry@cheshirenovelprizekids.com

Once you have paid for a Unique ID number, we cannot refund any entry money for any reason.

Yes, you can pay for as many entries as you wish. Please note apart from picture books, only one entry per payment is allowed. If entering picture books you can submit up to 3 picture books no longer than 800 words each.

We do not accept PDF files or Pages. Please only submit in word and check this prior to submission.

As we have a team of readers, we need to ensure that every entry is anonymous. Please only include your name on the submission entry form: Name of book, genre, and author name.

Your name should not appear anywhere in the main body of the work or in the synopsis. Pages should be numbered and the title of the book on a header or footer on each page.

Please remember to include page numbers!

Yes of course you can enter. Our competition is worldwide. However, all entries must be in English.