Submission guidelines

Jericho Prize for Children's Writing 2025

1. 1. Entry is FREE

   2. Authors must live in the UK and be aged 18 or over at the time of entry; there is no upper age limit

   3. You must identify as Black-British, ie of African, Caribbean or mixed-heritage Black descent

   4. Previous Jericho Prize first-prize winners are not eligible for entry

   5. Your submitted manuscript must be your own original work and should not have been published previously by a traditional publisher; and you yourself must not be, or have been, under contract with any publisher or literary agent for writing books

   6. AI-generated manuscripts are not eligible; submissions will be checked for AI-generated text

   7. You can submit multiple entries although only one can be shortlisted

   8. Only stories are eligible for submission

   9. Stories can be written in rhyme or prose

   10. Stories must feature at least one human Black or mixed-Black main character 

   11. Your word count (excluding the title page and any illustration notes) must be:

• baby and toddler books (1–3 years): between 100 and 200 words

• picture books (3–7 years): no more than 700 words

1. 12. You cannot enter translated or co-written manuscripts

   13. Historical fiction and non-fiction submissions are not eligible in either category

   14. Your manuscript must be written in the English language with UK spellings and a legible 12pt font  

   15. You must include a title page at the start of your document including your name, story title and word count. Do not include any illustrations!

   16. Please use the following file-naming convention: your_story_title_firstname_surname.doc

   17. Self-published work can be submitted if it was self-published from January 2022 onwards. Self-published work will be judged purely on the basis of the text. Please send a text-only version of your book WITHOUT any illustrations

   18. Send your manuscript in a Word doc or PDF file (max. file size 1MB) via the form in the How to enter section

NOTE: If your submission does not meet ALL the above entry criteria, it will NOT be considered

1. 19. Each writer will get a confirmation email to say their manuscript has been received (do check your Junk folder)

   20. Longlisted writers will be notified by email and shortlisted writers will be notified by phone

   21. The longlist and shortlist will be published on this website and social media

   22. The winners and shortlisted writers must be willing to participate in promo/media opportunities during and after the competition for up to one year

   23. The winners will be announced at our awards ceremony in 2025

   24. IMPORTANT: the submission window opens at 9am (UK time) on 31 March 2025 and the deadline for submissions is 12pm (midday, UK time) on 30 April 2025. Entries received before or after the submission window will not be considered

   25. The judges' decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into

   26. The Jericho Prize reserves the right not to award a prize should a suitable winner not be found, and reserves the right to change these Terms and Conditions without notice

If you have any questions about our submissions process, please check our FAQs first. Alternatively, you can contact us at jerichoprize@gmail.com.