Delacorte Young Adult Novel Contest

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers

is proud to announce the Twenty-eighth Annual

Delacorte Press Contest for a First Young Adult Novel

The prize of a book contract (on the publisher’s standard form) covering world rights for a hardcover and a paperback edition, including an advance and royalties, will be awarded annually to encourage the writing of contemporary young adult fiction. The award consists of $1,500 in cash and a $7,500 advance against royalties.

The contest is open to U.S. and Canadian writers who have not previously published a young adult novel. Manuscripts submitted to a previous Delacorte Press contest are not eligible.

Submissions should consist of a book-length manuscript with a contemporary setting that will be suitable for readers ages 12 to 18. Manuscripts should be no shorter than 100 typewritten pages and no longer than 224 typewritten pages. Include a brief plot summary with your covering letter.

Manuscripts sent to Delacorte Press may not be submitted to other publishers or literary agents while under consideration for the award.

Manuscripts must be postmarked after October 1 but no later than December 31.

Entries will be judged by the editors of Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers. The award will be awarded on the basis of originality, style, and creativity. The judges reserve the right not to award an award.

Delacorte is a division of Random House. Other than in a contest like this, Random House doesn’t accept manuscript submissions or queries, except from literary agents.

Full contest details here: http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/writingcontests/
(Scroll down past the contest rules for the Middle Grade Contest (which is in the spring) to get to the rules for the YA contest.)

Note: To keep up with all the annual writing contests in Canada, order The Canadian Writers' Contest Calendar. Details here.

For information about Brian Henry's writing workshops and creative writing courses, see here.