ICL YA Fantasy First Pages Contest

Fantasy is hot, hot, hot in today's market! From alternate histories and mysterious underworld figures to all-powerful societies, witch hunters, and worlds where dragons and humans live side by side ... these are the fantasy elements readers are craving.

This contest is your chance to show off your skills at creating a character and a world we want to live in for the rest of your book (or series)!

This is a First Pages contest. Entries must be 1,000 words or less, aimed at a teen audience, and have one main character. Entries should include worldbuilding and some of the rules of story's magic system. Submissions must be previously unpublished and not under contract.

We can't wait to read the world YOU create!

DEADLINE: AUGUST 31, 2024

World building - Establish it early, make it believable, and stick to the rules you set up.
Characters - Well developed. Within the YA age range, which is roughly 12 to 18, and believable. Even if the protagonist has green scales or a forked tongue, give him or her human traits so readers can relate to them.
POV - First person is big in YA, but close third person will also work. Be consistent.
Dialogue - Be true to your characters and their age range. A 15-year-old shouldn’t speak like an Oxford don.
Magics - Set up the rules. Don’t break them or change them halfway through the story, unless the birth of a new magic is integral to the story.

This contest is to write fantasy first pages for teens.
Entries must be no more than 1,000 words (but they can be less if that makes the most sense for the story).
Entries must include worldbuilding and systems of magic.
Entries must be unpublished and not under contract.
Include a two-three sentence summary at the top of your first page to give us context.
Proofread your entry to ensure it matches the industry standard manuscript format (double spacing, clear contact information, no creative use of fonts).
Entries must follow manuscript submission guidelines as stated on our Contest Rules page HERE.
Entries must be submitted via our online form by midnight Pacific Time on August 31, 2024.
There is a $19 reading fee per manuscript to enter the contest.
You may enter more than one manuscript but each entry requires a $19 reading fee.
Add our email address (learn@instituteforwriters.com) to your list of contacts and/or safe senders so you can receive the email with the free entry information to our online workshop where we announce the winners. (Non-entrants pay $7.)
The minimum age to enter the contest is 18 years of age.

Submissions will be judged on clarity, originality, how well they adhere to the theme, potential in the market, and appropriateness for the age range.

The winning entries in the ICL YA First Pages Contest will be announced at a live online workshop within 90 days after the contest closes. All contest entrants will be notified of the event details by email and be invited free of charge. (Non-entrants may attend for a nominal fee of $7.)

Institute of Children's Literature presents

YA FANTASY FIRST PAGES WRITING CONTEST

A CONTEST FOR WRITERS

Calling all Fantasy Authors!

Here's what our judge will be looking for:

Why Enter an ICL Writing Contest?

Here's what you need to know...