Searchlight Awards

Searchlight Writing for Children Awards is an international competition for aspiring authors writing for children or young adults.

Our purpose is to shine a bright light on exceptional writing. We champion it, send it out into the world, and act as a stepping stone for children’s authors to achieve their literary dreams.

We can’t wait to tell the world about you and your writing, so the top ten entries from each competition receive maximum recognition. They will:

Feature in Searchlight’s Pitch Book of winning stories, which is sent to an extensive list of literary agents and publishers who have requested it, to help your writing get noticed.

Appear, alongside your biography, in our Winners’ Gallery on the Searchlight Awards’ website, which agents, publishers, friends and family can access.

And, to top it all, the First Prize winner for each competition receives a generous Cash Award.

Entries are invited for the following competitions

Best Children’s Picture Book Text 2024

Submissions from 14th May to 1st September 2024

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Best Novel Opening for Children or Young Adults 2024

Submissions from 14th May to 1st September 2024

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Best Chapter Book for 5-8-year-olds 2024

Entries for this competition are now closed

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The artwork is by artist and illustrator Catherine Redgate.

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