Searchlight Writing for Children Awards
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writingawards.bsky.social
Searchlight Writing for Children Awards
@writingawards.bsky.social
580 followers 270 following 73 posts
International Writing for Children/YA competition.
https://www.searchlightawards.co.uk/competitions/
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writingawards.bsky.social
AGENT NEWS. Not one but two offers of representation for our fabulous Best Novel Opening 2024 shortlistee @mcalvani.bsky.social . Wow! Mayra has now signed with the equally fabulous @keslupo.bsky.social of @maasslitagency.bsky.social . What a perfect match! Huge congrats, Mayra.
April 7, 2025 at 10:15 AM
writingawards.bsky.social
Our super-talented listee Amanda Addison has been shortlisted for The New Angle Prize 2025 with her YA novel Looking for Lucie. We are so proud of her. ❤️
March 27, 2025 at 9:37 AM
writingawards.bsky.social
Our Winners’ Gallery for Best Novel Opening and Best Picture Book Text 2024 is now live! See who won, read short extracts of the stories… Congratulations to all! 👏👏👏

www.searchlightawards.co.uk/winners-gall...
March 12, 2025 at 4:38 PM
writingawards.bsky.social
The moment we sent out our Agent/Publisher Pitch Book of Winning Stories @gavin-crippin.bsky.social started getting interest. ‘Such a great voice!’ was the general opinion. Things moved at lightning speed and we’re delighted to say that Gavin has now accepted representation. Fantastic news! 🥳
March 11, 2025 at 9:06 AM
writingawards.bsky.social
BOOK NEWS - We’re seeing Olivia Wakeford’s book EVERYWHERE! 🥳 Back in 2021 My Dog was one of our competition entries and our readers fell in love with it. ❤️Since then Olivia’s joined our reading team and she’s brilliant at selecting stories for the longlist, too. Massive congrats, Olivia.
March 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
writingawards.bsky.social
Tom Lancaster has been crowned the winner of Best Picture Book Text 2024. Our judge Lorna Hemingway of Bell Lomax Moreton said Bamboo Hullabaloo was ‘a joy to read aloud due to its excellent rhyme and fast paced nature’. Many congratulations, Tom! 🥳⭐️🍾
February 7, 2025 at 10:49 AM
writingawards.bsky.social
Huge congratulations to the winner of Best Novel Opening 2024 - @gavin-crippin.bsky.social . ⭐️🥳🍾 Our literary agent judge Rachel Petty of The Blair Partnership admired Gavin’s ‘sparkly dialogue and authentic-feeling voice’. Our readers loved the voice, too!
February 7, 2025 at 10:43 AM
writingawards.bsky.social
Announcing the long-awaited results of Best Picture Book Text 2024. Huge congratulations to our final 10!

Thank you to all the writers who entered this competition. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to read your stories.

www.searchlightawards.co.uk/best-childre...
February 7, 2025 at 9:52 AM
writingawards.bsky.social
We are thrilled to announce the results of Best Novel Opening 2024. Congratulations to our final 10! ⭐️🥳

A huge thank you to all our entrants for being brave and allowing us to read your work. It has been a privilege and a pleasure. ❤️

www.searchlightawards.co.uk/best-novel-o...
February 7, 2025 at 9:48 AM
writingawards.bsky.social
Longlistees, we will be emailing you the results of Best Novel Opening and Best Picture Book Text 2024 tomorrow - ahead of the official announcement on Friday.

You are all superstars and, whether you are shortlisted or not, we believe in your stories. Best of luck!
February 4, 2025 at 12:39 PM
writingawards.bsky.social
Couldn’t be happier! The winner of our Best Chapter Book 2024 competition - Sophie Clarke with Gracie, Dave and The God of Dogs - has accepted representation from Lucy Irvine of PFD. Such brilliant news! 🥳
December 18, 2024 at 8:15 AM
writingawards.bsky.social
It’s the moment our entrants have been waiting for - the longlist announcement! 🥳🍾 Congratulations to everyone who entered. It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to read your writing.
See our website for details. www.searchlightawards.co.uk/news/
December 12, 2024 at 11:04 AM
writingawards.bsky.social
BOOK NEWS! Delighted to be able to share with you that Mina the Mighty (shortlisted in our 2022 Best Picture Book Text competition) will be published in March. It was an absolute favourite with our readers. So happy for @nadineholland.bsky.social . 🥳👏
December 5, 2024 at 10:38 AM
writingawards.bsky.social
BOOK NEWS - Thrilled that The Go Away Rain Dance is to published! It’s by our wonderful shortlistee (and now competition reader) @clairelewiswrites.bsky.social . Claire not only wrote the picture book but illustrated it, too. So, so talented! ⭐️
December 2, 2024 at 12:16 PM
writingawards.bsky.social
Over the moon to finally see this absolutely gorgeous picture book. It’s by our super-talented listee (and more recently competition reader) @hazelgardner.bsky.social . Penguin and Pup are sooo loveable. I can see why Macmillan asked for a series! ❤️
November 25, 2024 at 8:25 PM
writingawards.bsky.social
Our 2024 competitions are now closed for judging. Good luck, everyone. 🍀🤞
September 2, 2024 at 4:15 PM
writingawards.bsky.social
Competition closing this Sunday at 23.59pm, UK time. Good luck, everyone! 🍀🤞
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/competitions/
August 30, 2024 at 7:28 AM
writingawards.bsky.social
Just a little reminder that our competition closes this Sunday at 23.59pm, UK time. For everyone working hard to submit before the deadline you can do it!
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/competitions/
August 28, 2024 at 6:54 AM
writingawards.bsky.social
We’re seeing our entrant badges popping up all over social media 🙂. If you see one please join us in wishing the writer good luck. We know how hard everyone works on their stories and we like to celebrate every entry.
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/competitions/
August 26, 2024 at 7:26 AM
writingawards.bsky.social
Could you be our winner?
Just over one week left to enter - go for it!

Please share with your writer friends. We don’t want anyone to miss the deadline. Thank you!
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/competitions/
August 22, 2024 at 8:53 AM
writingawards.bsky.social
This year we’ve introduced an amazing 2nd place prize for Best Picture Book Text 2024. It’s a detailed editorial review of the manuscript from top editor Natascha Biebow, MBE. Natascha has over 30 years experience commissioning and editing picture books.
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/competitions/
August 19, 2024 at 6:59 PM
writingawards.bsky.social
CLOSING SOON! Just over 2 weeks left to enter.
First prize: cash award and a call with our agent judge.
Second prize: editorial feedback.
All shortlisted entries: featured in our coveted Agent/Publisher Pitch Book of Winning Stories.
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/competitions/
August 15, 2024 at 9:31 AM
writingawards.bsky.social
Absolutely thrilled that Lorna Hemingway is judging Best Picture Book Text 2024. Last year our agent judge Becky Bagnell offered representation to our winner Sarah Dollar.
Opportunity knocks!
Deadline: 1st September.
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/competitions/
August 6, 2024 at 11:06 AM
writingawards.bsky.social
Judged by literary agents Lorna Hemingway and Rachel Petty.
1st prize: £1000 - novel opening, £500 - picture book text.
2nd prize: editorial feedback.
Shortlisted entries: featured in our coveted agent/publisher pitch book.
Go for it! 🍀🤞
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/competitions/
August 1, 2024 at 7:41 AM
writingawards.bsky.social
Searchlight’s Pitch Book of Winning Stories is working its magic again. Six of our nine shortlistees for Best Chapter Book 2024 have already received interest from agents and publishers.

To enter one of our other competitions see here: www.searchlightawards.co.uk/competitions/
July 25, 2024 at 9:31 AM