How to Enter

See our criteria below and email your entry to [email protected].

Illustration Submission Criteria

• Entries must include a portfolio of your work including a minimum of ten sample pieces of artwork OR full layouts and illustrations for a 32-page picture book.
• Please also include a link to your online portfolio, website or Instagram page.
• Entries can include text, but text is not necessary to enter the illustration competition.
• Please send your art as a PDF.
• Please include your name in the file name.
• In order to get the very most out of the prize, please do consider sending in a range of styles, such as colour spreads, black and white line work, etc. This allows you to show off the full range of your work and the multiple age groups it might appeal to. Even if your work feels more design based or older, we’d love to hear from you. Below are a few of our favourite covers to spark inspiration.

Text submission criteria

• Your submission must be a maximum of 5,000 words of text.
• There is no minimum word count and the maximum 5,000 words can be a sample of a longer work – it does not have to be a short story (though those are welcome too!)
• We strongly advise you to complete your work as much as you can, even if you do not enter the whole manuscript: after the ceremony agents will request the full manuscript, so in order to get the most out of the prize, it is best to have the whole manuscript ready to go.
• Please send in the complete story if the text is for a picture book. (Picture books should not be longer than 5000 words).
• If your text competition entry is for an illustrated book, you do not need to submit illustrations.
• Please submit the text either as a Word document or as a PDF.
• Please include your name in the file name.

General Criteria

• Entrants must be of Black, Asian or non-white global majority ethnic background.
• Entrants must be previously unpublished. This does not include self-published authors and illustrators, who can still enter.
• We believe in the power of human creation. The use of artificial technology (“AI”) in the creation of an entry is prohibited. In the event that it is determined that AI has been used to create a submission, that submission shall immediately be removed from consideration. Should a winning entry be found to have been created using AI, Faber reserves the right to cancel such winning entry and demand a return of any prize awarded.
• Entries must be text or artwork for children (i.e. 1–18 years), not for adults.
• Entrants must be over 18 and reside in the UK and/or Ireland.
• Applicants can apply for both prizes – text and illustration – but can only submit one entry per text or art category.
• All entries will be acknowledged on receipt, but only shortlistees will be contacted directly. Winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony, or shortly afterwards if winners are unable to attend.
• This competition is not open to employees or contractors of Faber, their immediate families, nor to any other person connected with the Competition.
• The prize is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for its monetary value or other products or events. Faber reserves the right to amend the specification of the prize or offer an alternative prize of equivalent status without any prior warning. No cash alternative will be offered.
• Faber reserves the right to update or amend these terms and conditions from time to time.
• Faber will only process entrants’ data for the purposes of entering entrants into and administering the Competition, and not for any other purpose without the entrants’ consent. This will not affect any existing marketing preferences an entrant may have with us. For further information on how Faber processes data please read our Privacy Policy.

If you have any queries about criteria, please email [email protected].

What you Win

First Prize for text:

• £1,500 cash prize
• A free place on an online Faber Academy writing course*
• Annual Silver Membership at The Writer’s Salon
• Arranged by BookTrust, the opportunity to shadow already established authors and illustrators on virtual school visits.

Second Prize for text:

• £500 cash prize
• Annual Silver Membership at The Writer’s Salon

First Prize for illustration:

• £1,500 cash prize
• A 1-year Illustrator + Folio membership from The Association of Illustrators (The AOI), worth £225, including our free contract review service, Helpdesk Advice on all aspects of being a freelance illustrator from licensing, commissioning, a 20-image Folio and more Member Benefits.
• Arranged by BookTrust, the opportunity to shadow already established authors and illustrators on virtual school visits.
• One:one tutorial with Orange Beak. Orange Beak tutorials offer guidance and professional advice on your illustration or design work. From your use of material to understanding colour, looking at your drawing skills, to character design, world building, cover design, book layouts, writing . . . In short we’ll give practical and actionable advice, to help you set targets to achieve your creative goals. The tutorials are 60 minutes online including tutor preparatory work and feedback.

Second Prize for illustration:

• £500 cash prize
• One:one tutorial with Orange Beak. Orange Beak tutorials offer guidance and professional advice on your illustration or design work. From your use of material to understanding colour, looking at your drawing skills, to character design, world building, cover design, book layouts, writing . . . In short we’ll give practical and actionable advice, to help you set targets to achieve your creative goals. The tutorials are 60 minutes online including tutor preparatory work and feedback.
• Arranged by BookTrust, the opportunity to shadow already established authors and illustrators on virtual school visits.

Ten illustration shortlistees:

• One:one half hour portfolio tuition with Orange Beak.

All Winners:

• Winners’ work is showcased in the FAB Prize pack that is shared with our extensive agent contact list and other key professionals within the industry.

*Terms and conditions
The free place on an online Faber Academy writing course can be selected from any online masterclass and is subject to availability.

Our Supporters

The FAB Prize is proud to be supported by BookTrust, the Association of Illustrators (AOI) and Orange Beak, who offer opportunities to our FAB Prize entrants. If you’d like to read more about children’s books and diversity, we recommend the BookTrust Represents research as well as the CLPE Reflecting Realities report.

BookTrust Represents gives support and increases the exposure of existing authors and illustrators of colour by promoting them in schools, bookshops and festivals; to inspire the next generation of children’s book creators by getting writers and illustrators of colour into schools across the country as well as offering training and mentoring to new and aspiring authors and illustrators of colour – including the fabulous FAB prize winners.

The Association of Illustrators (AOI) is the world’s leading illustration body supporting and sustaining illustrators and the illustration industry. Established in 1973 the AOI offers its 2,700+ members from around the world professional support, online resources as well as holding meet ups, webinars and events throughout the UK. The AOI has successfully campaigned to increase the standing of illustration as a profession and improve commercial and ethical conditions. With a membership that includes freelance illustrators, agents, students and colleges the AOI continues to support and educate future generations at every stage of their career.

Orange Beak Studio was founded in 2017 with a desire to share knowledge and offer insight on the world of publishing and children’s books. Founded by Maisie Paradise Shearring (an award-winning internationally published author and illustrator) and Ness Wood (an award-winning designer and art director), Orange Beak has cultivated a community of illustrators and writers, offering tutorials, mentoring, events and award opportunities.

We work with people at all stages of their creative career – from those that are brand new to it all, those that are at the early stages of their career or just graduated, to those that are established illustrators and authors. Orange Beak is here to support and enable creatively ambitious clients to move forward with their goals! Orange Beak is one of the UK’s leading children’s book tutorial and events providers, and we’re incredibly proud of the community that we’ve built over the years. With clients from all corners of the globe, we’re honoured that so many people want to spend their time with us.