Here are the Terms and Conditions. We strongly advise that you read these through before entering, as your questions may be answered here or in the FAQs on our website!

1. Competition Intro
2. Need a Hand? – Support When Entering
3. Who Can Enter
4. Your Entry – What’s Allowed, What’s Not
5. The Prize
6. Entry Cost
7. Discounts and Free Places
8. Disqualifications
9. How Your Entry Will Be Judged
10. Formatting Your Submission
11. Copyright and Fair Play
12. Agent Representation
13. Previously Published Work
14. Plan Ahead – Important Dates
15. Refunds
16. Protecting Your Privacy and Data
17. Online Data Security
18. Contacting the Organisers
19. Organiser Details
20. Disclaimers
21. Thank You


1. Competition Intro

Welcome to the fifth year of the annual I Am Writing Competitions, a vibrant space where writers worldwide share their stories and connect with industry professionals passionate about great storytelling. Hosted by Elane and Sarah at I Am in Print Ltd, this year features twelve exciting categories across children’s fiction (from picture books to young adult and new adult) and adult fiction and non-fiction.

The competition opens on Monday, 30 March 2026 and closes at 1pm on Thursday, 14 May 2026 (UK time).

Please read these friendly guidelines carefully to help your entry shine and be eligible for judging.

2. Need a Hand?

Support When Entering

We’re here to make your entry process as smooth and supportive as possible!
Entries are submitted via Zealous.co, which offers live chat support Monday to Friday, 9am–4pm UK time, for help with uploading documents and payment. Outside of these hours you can also email info@zealous.co.

Our extensive FAQs on the I Am in Print website www.iaminprint.co.uk/competitions-2026 answer many common questions and can be accessed at any time.

New this year: If you would prefer to ask questions about the competitions ‘face to face’ rather than receive a written guide, we can arrange friendly Zoom chats to ensure you feel comfortable entering the competition. Email Elane and Sarah at competitions@iaminprint.co.uk with the subject ‘support required’ outlining what additional help you need.

3. Who Can Enter

Any unagented* writer, aged 18 and over, of any nationality can enter from anywhere in the world! (*See Section 12 for full details).

Entries must be written in English.

Co-authored entries are welcome! (See Section 5 for prize information).

4. Your Entry – What’s Allowed, What’s Not!

Submit only via Zealous.co. No email submissions and for the love of trees, no paper!
Your work must be original and your own. No AI assistance or plagiarism.
Your manuscript does not need to be complete. (Previous winners, in fact, have had just part of a novel written!). But you must submit the opening chapters, not start part way through your manuscript.

Submit the relevant word count for your category, including any prologue you may have, as follows:

- Up to 3,500 words of your opening sample (All categories except those mentioned below)

-Up to 3,500 words of your non-fiction

- Up to 2,000 words for Chapter Books

- Up to 600 words per text for Picture Books

We will repeat this bit as every year we are asked if we will accept, say, 3,512 words for a novel – the maximum word counts are stated above. This keeps everything fair as writers always want add a bit more! So, please tailor your entry to cut off at an absolute maximum of words full stop.

Your synopsis (or proposal if entering the non-fiction category) must be one page maximum. Please don’t run into two pages. Your synopsis/proposal is not part of your total word count, as we’re really friendly and want you to include as much of your best opening sample as possible. But it must be on one-page, single-line spaced text, in size 12 pt Times New Roman font. (See ‘Formatting your Submission’ under section 10 for full details).

One manuscript per entry (Picture Books may include two texts in one file per paid entry).

You may enter as many different stories as you like; simply pay and enter each manuscript separately.

The same manuscript can be entered in multiple categories with separate fees. Great news if you’ve written something like a romcom as you can enter it in Romance and Commercial Fiction! (And if it’s a romantasy, you can enter it in Science Fiction Fantasy too!) We hope this helps those of you who can’t really decide which genre your book sits within.

Each year we choose different judges for the categories (except Picture Books, where we have a working partnership with a publishing house). If you wish to enter a book you have entered in previous years, you may, as the judge will be a fresh pair of eyes.

Entries cannot be withdrawn and resubmitted. Once you have paid and entered your submission, the system is locked and will not allow you to edit or remove your entry. So please make sure it’s right before you confirm and pay for your entry on the system.

Your name must not be included on the manuscript. To keep it fair, the judging is anonymous and judges identify your entry only by the number allocated. Therefore, do not put your real name or pseudonym (pen names) on the document. Judges do not see the name you set up for your Zealous account. See Section 9 for more information.

5. The Prize

Detailed prize information can be found on our website under each genre category and forms part of these Terms & Conditions. Please see Schedule A (at the bottom of this document) for the Commercial Fiction Prize details and the writing retreat provided by Naxos Creative. This is separate to the other prizes.

If a co-authored entry achieves 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in any of the categories, the reward will be counted as one entry and split equally between the authors concerned. If a co-authored entry is awarded 1st place in the Commercial Fiction category, only one place on the writing retreat is available so the co-authors will need to play a round of Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide who would attend!

6. Entry Cost

Each entry costs £16 (VAT included).

As an open, honest organisation, we are transparent about what the entry fee covers. Further details can be found in the FAQs on our website: www.iaminprint.co.uk/competitions-2026

7. Discounts and Free Places

We’re committed to diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Last year, we supported just under 100 writers taking part with subsidised or free of charge entries!

Please apply for only one discounted or free entry per writer. The more writers we can offer fair access, the more smiles we help create.

Living overseas is not a valid reason for a discount due to currency fluctuations.

Concessions are released in batches. If available at the time of asking, you’ll receive your own unique code to use at entry.

Don’t worry, to ensure fairness, judges will not know who has received concessionary entries.

To apply, email Elane and Sarah at competitions@iaminprint.co.uk with the appropriate subject line (stating whether you are requesting discounted or free of charge entry) and telling us some brief details about why you believe you qualify:

Discounted entry: for writers from any underrepresented background, or full-time students

Free of charge entry: for full-time carers, people with disabilities, or low-income households (we work on a trust basis, so please be honest about your circumstances when applying).

Honesty matters: misuse of concessionary applications may lead to requests for proof and withdrawal of entries.

8. Disqualifications

It pains us to say it, but entries may be withdrawn and disqualified without refund if they:

Do not comply with these Terms & Conditions

Are withdrawn and resubmitted

Contain identifying names on manuscripts (See section 9 for more information)

Include plagiarised or AI-generated content

Have falsely entered under a discounted or free of charge code

Already have a literary agent (except for Picture Books, where the judge is a publishing house – see sections 12 and 13 for more information

9. How Your Entry Will Be Judged

Judging is based on literary merit alone and not determined by chance.

Manuscripts must be anonymous. Do not put your real name or pseudonym (pen name) on the document. Judges identify your entry only by the number allocated and do not see the name you use to set up your Zealous account.

Your chosen name (real or pen) in your Zealous account will be used for correspondence and public announcements – so please decide how you would like to be perceived publicly before you enter!

Winners’ names will be shared with judges (and, in addition, for the Commercial Fiction category, our sponsor, Naxos Creative) and contact with any writers of interest may be initiated before announcements are made public.

Judges’ decisions are final. Judges reserve the right to withhold awards if no entry reaches an appropriate standard for that genre.

10. Formatting Your Submission

For all genres (See below for Picture Books which have separate formatting rules)

Do not put your real name or pen name anywhere on the document!

Use 12 pt Times New Roman font, in English, on your document

First, write your one-page, single-spaced synopsis, or proposal if writing non-fiction (remember, it must not run into two pages). Head this first page “Synopsis/Proposal for – then the name of your book”.

In the same document beneath your synopsis (or proposal if submitting non-fiction) include your double-spaced 3,500 word writing sample. (Chapter Books have a maximum word count of 2,000 words). Put the title of your book at the top of this section. The title of your book is not included within the word count.

If you have a prologue this is included in the word count. We know it is tempting, but do not go over, even by a few words, to keep things fair for all.

Save your file in Microsoft .doc. Docx, or Adobe PDF formats only; avoid Apple Page files as these will not upload.
Name your file with your book title (e.g. MyStory.docx).

For Picture Books

Do not put your real name or pen name anywhere on the document!

Use 12 pt Times New Roman font, in English, on your document

Neither a synopsis nor a covering letter is required.

Put the title of your book at the top of your sample text
.
The title of your book is not included within the word count.

If including two picture book texts, put the title above the text for each book and include both in the same document.

Each text should be no more than 600 words each. Illustration notes must NOT be included, UNLESS they are truly integral to the understanding of the story, i.e. the spread does not contain text but the illustrations are a tool to move the story forwards. Illustration notes that are necessary do not count in the 600-word limit.

Save your file in Microsoft .doc. Docx, or Adobe PDF formats only; avoid Apple Page files as these will not upload.

Name your file with two numbered book titles (e.g. 1 Frankie’s Fantastic Fleece 2 The Dog Who Couldn’t Stop Laughing – with titles as good as these, it’s a shame we can’t enter!).

11. Copyright and Fair Play

You retain full copyright of your work. We only ask permission to read and judge it.
Plagiarised or AI-assisted works will be disqualified without refund. (We are really strict about this!).

By entering, you grant I Am in Print Ltd and the competition judges a limited license to read and assess your work solely for this competition.

Entries will remain anonymised until the Winners’ Announcement on 22 June – so if your title appears on the shortlist, please don’t claim it! If you choose to post the good news on social media that you have made the shortlist, do not identify your title!

12. Agent Representation

For all genres (See below for Picture Books which have separate entry rules)
To give unagented writers a much-needed boost, and because the judges are literary agents who may be interested in your work, this competition is open only to writers not represented by a literary agent at the time of entry.

We are sometimes asked if a writer who is agented for one genre can enter a category for another – the simple answer is “no, sorry”.

If you are lucky enough to receive an offer of representation / sign with an agent while your submission is under consideration for this competition, please inform us; your entry will need to be withdrawn without refund.
For co-authored entries, none of the authors may have agent representation.

For Picture Books

As this genre is being judged by a publisher, agented writers can enter the Picture Book category
.
13. Previously Published Work

Entries must be original and not traditionally published before.

Self-published works are welcome.

Texts which have been previously awarded as part of a shortlist, longlist, highly commended or 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in other competitions are welcome.

14. Plan Ahead – Important Dates

The deadline for entries is: Thursday 14 May 2026 at 1:00 pm BST.

We strongly encourage submitting early to avoid last-minute stress. Technical support and email replies to entrants’ questions may be limited close to the deadline due to the high volume of correspondence we receive in those closing hours. There have been occasions in the past where an entrant has been completing their entry as the system closes. The system is automated and will close on Thursday 14 May 2026 at 1:00 pm BST sharp! Give yourself plenty of time!

Announcement dates (on www.iaminprint.co.uk and our social media):

Monday 8 June 2026 – Shortlist announced
Monday 22 June 2026 – Winners announced

As mentioned in Section 11, entries will remain anonymised until the Winners’ Announcement on 22 June – so if your title appears on the shortlist, please don’t claim it! If you choose to post the good news on social media that you have made the shortlist, do not identify your title!

Full disclosure of names and titles for winners, highly commended places and the remainder of the shortlist will be made on 22 June. If you have made any of the lists, you can share the great news far and wide, and we will do the same!

15. Refunds

Entry fees are non-refundable except if the competition is cancelled or withdrawn by I Am in Print Ltd, or where required by law
.
16. Protecting Your Privacy and Data

We comply fully with UK GDPR to keep your personal data safe and secure.

Your details are only shared with the third parties mentioned in these Terms and Conditions involved in administering the competition or prize fulfilment.

I Am in Print Ltd only accesses your name, email, and entry. We do not store credit card or bank details. (See Section 17 for our third party responsibilities).

By entering, you agree to your name (or pen name) and book title being published on our social media platforms and website, and that of the judges (or sponsor for Commercial Fiction) to share as their winning titles, if appropriate.
By entering, you agree to receive occasional emails about our related writing or publishing services and events, with the option to unsubscribe anytime.

17. Online Data Security

Our entry platform is Zealous and their payment platform of choice is Stripe. Both respect global privacy standards and more information about their privacy policies can be found on their respective websites:

• Zealous Privacy Policy
• Stripe Privacy Center

18. Contacting the Organisers

We have compiled an extensive list of FAQs on our website to support these Terms and Conditions so please read through both before contacting us as you may save time answering your question there faster than we will be able to respond.

For all competition-related queries, email: competitions@iaminprint.co.uk. We keep elements of our business separate so emails about the competitions sent to our other I Am in Print business email addresses may not be read or answered there.

Queries after the competition closes are unlikely to be responded to.

19. Organiser Details

I Am in Print Ltd
Kingfisher House
Rownhams Lane
North Baddesley
Southampton
SO52 9LP
Company number: 13773866

20. Disclaimers

By entering and paying, you agree to all Terms & Conditions.

These Terms & Conditions may be amended during the competition for legal or operational reasons, without unfairly affecting existing entries. Changes will be communicated if needed.

By entering, you consent to being contacted by I Am in Print Ltd, the judges for your category or, if entering Commercial Fiction, sponsor Naxos Creative.

Any marketing emails sent at a later date by I Am in Print concerning publishing event days or related writing services can be unsubscribed from at any time.

We reserve the right to cancel or terminate the competition, if necessary, but rest assured, full refunds will be issued for paid entries.

Winning or being shortlisted does not guarantee representation or publication.

21. Thank You

Thank you for trusting us with your stories. We’re thrilled to provide a safe space for you to share your work and celebrate your creativity with respect, compassion, and joy.

We appreciate polite and friendly communication and are here to support you. Please consider yourself part of our international I Am Writing community!