I was delighted to read in a Writing Magazine tweet this week that the publisher David Fickling Books – until recently featured on my list of publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts – is opening its doors to unagented writers for two weeks in May, and it looks like this could be a regular occurrence.
The submissions window is taking the form of a competition called ‘Master of the Inkpot’ (shades of Terry Pratchett or JK Rowling there). Every submission will be read and a shortlist drawn up. The top five will be featured on the website and the winner invited in with a view to publication.
Guidelines for entry are very exact so check and double check the requirements. Picture book submissions should, unusually, include illustrations. Any reading age is considered including adult. And luckily for me, they are happy to reconsider material previously sent if it has been reworked (I’m always reworking!).
This is a great opportunity to submit to a well respected, high quality publishing house who aren’t asking for a competition entry fee. So let’s make them glad they asked us. Good luck, everyone!
Lou Treleaven 
Reblogged this on Joanna Goodwin Author and commented:
Wow! Amazing opportunity to submit a piece for a fantastic publisher.
Thank you. They sound very open minded.
…So if we’re shortlisted, not published, part our story will feature on the website- meaning that we won’t be able to send it elsewhere as another publisher will no longer be able to use it?
I believe they mean a blurb-type feature rather than anything which would prohibit further submissions.
I can’t help but wonder if the whole process would put another publisher off though…
Many thanks for the reply Lou 🙂
Thank you Lou!
Thanks for this, Lou. Not sure if I’ll be able to finish my children’s novel in time, but a great incentive to try!
Reblogged this on elizabethfrattaroli.
Thanks for the post.
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2015 13:09:44 +0000 To: yellowbrickalley@live.com
Looks like a wonderful opportunity. I have a youth nature-related nonfiction piece I may submit, however it looks like they handle predominately fiction.
Good luck to you – this is a great opportunity!
Thank you!!!
Shame for all the picture book writing, non illustrators though…
Brilliant. Thank you. Now I have a deadline for my first novel!
Dear Lou, Thank you for the information. Regards, John. Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2015 13:09:47 +0000 To: johnguthrie1949@hotmail.co.uk
Has anyone tried to use the submission form on their web-site. Errors keep preventing me from sending anything. Nor are there any e-mail addresses to find anyone at DFB.
I didn’t have a problem. Have you tried contacting them via Twitter at @DFB_story house?
I had a problem sending my submission online on the first day. I could not scroll up on the message box so therefore could not submit the whole of my letter (which was less that the 400 words asked for). in the end I submitted a short message but I was disappointed as I had spent a lot of time getting my letter just right. later I found that this problem had been rectified so I wish I had waited or sent my submission by post! I’m hoping that this will not matter and if it does….well there’s always next year!
It’s 400 characters Sally so that was why you had to send such a short message!
Oh, thank goodness for that! It’s the ME brain I guess. Well that is my excuse anyway. if I hadn’t been in such a hurry to send it, I probably would have realised. Just too much excitement! Anyway, thanks for letting me know. I can relax now.
I only know because I made the same mistake, Sally!
So glad I wasn’t the only one. Oh, and congrats on your recent success Lou. You deserve it.
Great, they aren’t accepting PB manuscripts without illustrations. I don’t illustrate!
Luckily there are other places you can send your manuscript, John. The norm is to ask for just text without illustrations. See my list at https://loutreleaven.wordpress.com/2010/07/21/childrens-publishers-accepting-unsolicited-manuscripts/
I have tried submitting my 43,000 MG several times. It’s not working for me!! I’m very frustrated.
What happens when you try?
Hi there – just to let you know that Fledgling press are not accepting children’s fiction at the moment – they replied promptly and gave a little feedback, but it’s a no to children’s fiction at the moment.