Get your book published by Stone Soup!
Stone Soup is thrilled to announce that we are accepting submissions for our annual book contest.
This year we once again plan to accept two books for publication: one novel or short story collection and one book of poems. We do consider all submissions for potential publication however!
Contest Details
Genre: Fiction (novel, novella, short story collection) or Poetry
Length: For fiction submissions, the minimum length is 20,000 words. For poetry submissions, the minimum length is 48 pages with no more than one poem per page. Novels in verse should be a minimum of 50 pages. There is no maximum word or page limit.
Age Limit: For this contest, we will accept manuscripts written by those age 14 or under.
Deadline: Tuesday, August 15, 2023 11:59 pm (Pacific Time)
Entry fee: $18.00
The submission fee is important to us; we are a nonprofit, and the fee helps us defray the costs of the contest and of producing the two winning books. However, if the submission fee represents a financial hardship to your family, please write to editor@stonesoup.com.
Submissions of multiple manuscripts by the same author are accepted but you must submit each as an individual entry and pay the fee each time.
Results and Prizes: We will select two winning manuscripts—one in fiction and one in poetry—to be published and distributed by Stone Soup in both print and ebook forms, available for sale on Amazon, via our distributors, and advertised along with the rest of our books to libraries and other vendors.
We will also name a handful of finalists.
Publication: We will consider all work submitted as part of the contest for potential publication in the magazine or as standalone volumes.
Previous Submissions: If you submitted to last year's contest and have substantially revised your manuscript in the meantime, you are welcome to resubmit it this year.
If you have questions, please review our FAQ page. If you can't find the answer to your question there, please write to stonesoup@stonesoup.com.
We reserve the right to select no winners in a given year.
Header image by Joanne Cai, 13
The date says 2022? Is this old or did you mean 2023?
Hi Joy,
We meant 2023; thank you for catching that typo!
This is so exciting, ive always wanted to publish my book, better get editing!
I have a novel that has the first draft finished and is being edited that I wrote with a friend (she is thirteen, I am fourteen). Her sister, who is eighteen, is helping edit. Is it still valid?
Hi Sol,
All submissions should be written entirely by those under the age of 14. There are some cases wherein it’s okay for a 14-year-old to submit, namely when all the writing of the book has taken place prior to the author turning 14. But outside editing help from those 14 or over is also disallowed.
Is there a specific font we have to use or size since i like using different fonts?
Also can I work with a friend on my novel?
Hi Nyla,
You should stick to one of the main serif fonts (Times New Roman or Garamond, for example), though the occasional use of a different font for stylistic purposes is fine.
And yes, you can work with a friend but you must both be 14 or younger.
Hi, can I submit art to go along with my book? I am sorry if this question has already been answered. Also, is there a maximum for word/page count? I don’t want to overdo it. Thanks!
Hi Ivy,
Yes you can absolutely submit art to be included in your book. And I don’t think there’s a strict maximum word or page count; just write it however long it needs to be in order to get the story out.
Is there a specific size our writing needs to be? For example does 11pt work?
Hi Ava,
12 pt font is the standard.
When writing my novel the directions state that I should have at least fifty pages. What size is the page itself that the novel should be typed on?
Hi Ava,
Standard printer paper will do! That’s 8 1/2 by 11 inches.
Can my parent edit my work or do I the writer edit all my own work?
Hi Ava,
We ask that you or a friend also 14 or younger do the preliminary editing. Then, if your book is selected, our editor will work closely with you to edit the work.
Hi, how do you find the contest titles for June 2023?
Hi Elaine,
Can you please elaborate? I’m not sure what you’re asking.
Would it be ok if I put my book on my parents email to send to the contest because I am worried that I might lose on my email account? Or is there something else I can do?
Hi Ava,
Yes, you can use your parents email to submit your book, just make sure you specify that you are the author.
Hi, I checked your FAQ page and didn’t find out whether or not we are supposed to number our pages. Is there a rule for that? Thanks for your concern.
I am fourteen, and all the writing for my book has taken place after my fourteenth birthday, but I won’t turn fifteen until after the deadline. Can I still enter?
Hi Isabella,
Yes, you may still enter as long as the book was written while you were 14.
How would you like me to specify that it is me?
Hi Ava,
I’m not sure what you mean. Do you mean how to authenticate your identity? All that is asked is that you submit a manuscript through your submittable account with your age, name, and photo.
Ok thank, you! I should’ve clarified what I meant.
Do you accept fanfictions?
Hi Katelynn,
We prefer to publish completely original work for the contest.
Hello,
I want to include artwork with every chapter/chapter banners. I may not have time to do this artwork before the deadline and I am wondering if I could first submit the writing and work out the artwork with the Stone Soup team after the deadline if I win?
Hi Thad,
This is a very interesting question. I think yes, focus first and foremost on the writing.
if i was 13 when i wrote my book but i’ll be 15 next year will i be able to submit?
Hi Lilli,
I’m honestly unsure. I think you could submit it and just make sure to write in the fact that it was written when you were 13, but no promises.