Best Novel Opening for Children or Young Adults 2024

There are three rounds of reading and judging. The first is undertaken by our dedicated Searchlight Awards’ founder, Kim Donovan. Stories are then allocated to a team of readers who select the longlist. Our team includes writers, editors and writing mentors. In the last round, a guest judge reads the longlisted stories, chooses the top 10 entries for the shortlist and an overall winner.

Here are some of the things our judges will be looking for:

• Originality or an unusual twist
• Writing craft
• Distinctive voice
• Evidence of a story beginning to unfold
• Memorable
• Appealing to a child/young adult readership

• Your story must be suitable for a reader aged between eight and eighteen.
• Your novel opening should be a maximum of 1,200 words and your pitch should be no more than 175 words.
• Your story should be double-spaced, a size 12 font, and submitted as a doc, docx or PDF file.
• Begin your story with the title. Please don’t include any other identifying information on the file, such as your name, as stories are read blind.
• Entries need to be in English.
• Multiple entries are permitted. However, we require a separate entry form and a new payment each time.
• Stories cannot be altered after they are submitted. Refunds are not given if a story is withdrawn.
• Entrants must be 16 years and over.
• Entrants cannot be agented or traditionally published. Your story must not be under contract for future publication at the time the results are announced, and must be withdrawn from the competition if you sign a contract with an agent or publisher after entering. Refunds are not given. Self-published stories are eligible.
• Stories that have been previously longlisted or shortlisted by Searchlight Awards cannot be entered again.
• Entries from authors worldwide are welcome.
• Entries must be the work of the entrant.
• AI generated entries are not eligible.
• While entrants retain full copyright, by entering the Best Novel Opening for Children or Young Adults 2024 competition you give permission, if shortlisted, for us to publish your name, photograph, biography and a short extract of your story on the Searchlight Awards’ website.
• By entering the Best Novel Opening for Children or Young Adults 2024 competition you give permission, if shortlisted, for us to include your story in Searchlight’s Pitch Book of winning stories, which will be sent to UK literary agents and publishers. If you do not wish to have your story promoted to agents/publishers you may opt out on the entry form.
• The decision of the readers and judges is final. No correspondence will be entered into regarding judging. We are unable to provide individual feedback.
• The competition organisers have the right to change the judge.
• The 2nd place editorial prize must be taken within three months of the results being announced. There is no cash alternative to this prize.
• Results will be posted on the Searchlight Awards’ website and winners will be emailed on 7^th February 2025
• By entering the Best Novel Opening for Children or Young Adults 2024 competition, entrants agree to these rules.