2025 FICTION CATEGORIES and CODES:

(PUBLISHED & UNPUBLISHED)

• Picture Books (approximate ages 2-10+) & Board Books (ages 0–4)

• Readers & Chapter Books (approximate ages 6–10) 

• Middle Grade Fiction Novels (approximate ages 9–14) 

• Young Adult Fiction Novels (approximate ages 12-18+) 

1. PPB: PUBLISHED PICTURE BOOKS & BOARD BOOKS

2. UPB: UNPUBLISHED PICTURE BOOKS & BOARD BOOKS

3. PRCB: PUBLISHED READERS & CHAPTER BOOKS

4. URCB: UNPUBLISHED READERS & CHAPTER BOOKS

5. PMG: PUBLISHED MIDDLE GRADE

6. UMG: UNPUBLISHED MIDDLE GRADE

7. PYA: PUBLISHED YOUNG ADULT

8. UYA: UNPUBLISHED YOUNG ADULT 

1. PPB - Published Picture Books & Board Books

PB: Ages 0-10+ and BB: Ages 0-4

(Copyright of 2023 or 2024 only)

Formatting For Published Fiction Books:

• Submit a full-color PDF of the published book. (It’s fine to have your name on your published submission or on any PDF page.)

• Include a 50-100 pitch blurb, double-spaced for page 1 of your submission. Add a page break. Insert copyright page on page 2. Start page 3 with the entire manuscript until all pages are added to your PDF entry.

• The cover is optional at the end of the PDF file. 

• Follow the sample formatting layout for all published board books and picture book entries at: https://www.acfwkidlit.com/formatting

• Choose "compress" when you save your file on your computer to help us save space on our Google Drive. 

• Name your file: [ENTRY TITLE]_[Category Code] 

• For example, label the file name:  Alice in Wonderland_PPB

• This is critical for the online form submission tracking. Please remove brackets. Do not use the category number, just the letters PPB for your category code.

• If you have an alternate poetry children’s book format, please note in the file name with the single word POETRY added at the end of the file name.

• If you have a co-author, you must include their name on the entry form. 

You, as the entrant, will be responsible for communicating and forwarding all information to your co-author, including the certificates that will be mailed to the primary entrant.

2. UPB-Unpublished Picture Books & Board Books

PB: Ages 0-10+ and BB: Ages 0-4

(PB: Fewer Than 1,000 Words)

(BB: Fewer Than 400 Words)

Formatting For Unpublished Fiction Manuscripts:

• Submit text for the entire manuscript in a Word Document ONLY. 

• Do not use Pages or other software. Do not send a PDF. 

• Note the maximum number of words for your entry.

• Include a 50-100 pitch blurb, double-spaced for page 1 of your submission. Add a page break and start page 2 with the entire manuscript.

• Double-space the manuscript per the formatting sample. Add 2 Double-spaced lines between page spreads. 

• Follow the sample formatting layout for all unpublished picture book or board book entries at: https://www.acfwkidlit.com/formatting

• Times New Roman 12-point font. 

• Use 1” margins on all sides.

• Format the paragraph indents either at .05” from the left margin or flush left margin. Either is fine.

• Add a header with your title and category code, and add page numbers in the header. (You may need to research how to add a header.)

• Do not put your name on any part of the document or file name.

• Do not include any illustrations or cover art in your submission.

• Name your file: [ENTRY TITLE]_[Category Code] 

• For example, label the file name:  Alice in Wonderland_UPB

• This is critical for the online form submission tracking. Please remove brackets. Do not use the category number, just the letters UPB for your category code.

• If you have an alternate picture or board book format, please note in the file name with the single word POETRY added at the end of the file name.

• If you have a co-author, you must include their name on the entry form. 

You, as the entrant, will be responsible for communicating and forwarding all information to your co-author, including the certificates that will be mailed to the primary entrant.

Those using poetry for picture books or board books may format as the poetry demands.

3. PRCB - Published Readers or Chapter Books 

Ages 6-10

(Copyright of 2023 or 2024 only)

Formatting For Published Fiction Books:

• Submit a single PDF document. 

• Include a one-page, single-spaced synopsis that outlines your entire book on page 1. Add a page break. Insert copyright page on page 2. Start page 3 with the first page of your book adding or photocopying the first ten pages of your book, minus dedications or blank pages, to add to your PDF entry. You will have a total of 12 pages. 

• The cover is optional at the end of the PDF file. 

• Indent paragraphs per formatting sample for the synopsis.

• Follow the sample formatting at https://www.acfwkidlit.com/formatting 

• It’s fine to have your name on your published submission or on any PDF page. 

• Choose "compress" when you save your file on your computer to help us save space on our Google Drive. (VIDEO TUTORIAL LINK COMING SOON)

• Do not send the cover image. 

• Name your file: [ENTRY TITLE]_[Category Code] 

• For example, label the file name:  Alice in Wonderland_PRCB

• This is critical for the online form submission tracking. Please remove brackets. Do not use the category number, just the letters PRCB for your category code.

• If you have an alternate book format, please note in the file name with the single word POETRY added at the end of the file name.

• If you have a co-author, you must include their name on the entry form. 

You, as the entrant, will be responsible for communicating and forwarding all information to your co-author, including the certificates that will be mailed to the primary entrant.

ALTERNATE SUBMISSION: You may submit a PDF of the whole book  provided by your publisher, but you must include the synopsis as page 1 of a single PDF. Judges will base critiques on reading the required pages only.

4. URCB - Unpublished Readers or Chapter Books 

Ages 6-10

(Fewer Than 25,000 Words)

Formatting For Unpublished Fiction Manuscripts:

• Submit the first 10 pages of your unpublished manuscript and a one-page synopsis in a single Word Document ONLY for a total of 11 pages. 

• Do not use Pages or other software. Do not send a PDF. 

• Include no more than a one-page, single-spaced synopsis that outlines your entire story as the first page of your document. Add a page break and start page 2 with the manuscript’s first ten pages for 11 pages total.

• Follow the sample formatting layout for all unpublished entries at: https://www.acfwkidlit.com/formatting

• Double-spaced Times New Roman 12-point font for the manuscript.

• Use 1” margins on all sides.

• Format the paragraph indents at .05” from the left margin. Do not use the tab function or spacebar. Do not add a line or extra space between paragraphs or before or after paragraphs.

• Add a header with your title and category code, and add page numbers in the header. (You may need to research how to add a header.)

• Do not put your name on any part of the document or file name.

• Name your file: [ENTRY TITLE]_[Category Code] 

• For example, label the file name:  Alice in Wonderland_URCB

• This is critical for the online form submission tracking. Please remove brackets. Do not use the category number, just the letters URCB for your category code.

• If you have an alternate book format, please note in the file name with the single word POETRY added at the end of the file name.

• If you have a co-author, you must include their name on the entry form. 

You, as the entrant, will be responsible for communicating and forwarding all information to your co-author, including the certificates that will be mailed to the primary entrant.

Those using poetry for chapter books of poetry or for Novels in Verse may format as the poetry demands.

5. PMG - Published Middle Grade

Ages 9–14

(Copyright of 2023 or 2024 only)

Formatting For Published Fiction Books:

• Submit a single PDF document. 

• Include a one-page, single-spaced synopsis that outlines your entire book on page 1. Add a page break. Insert copyright page on page 2. Start page 3 with the first page of your book adding or photocopying the first ten pages of your actual text to your PDF entry. You will have a total of 12 pages. 

• The cover is optional at the end of the PDF file. 

• Indent paragraphs per formatting sample for the synopsis.

• Follow the sample formatting at https://www.acfwkidlit.com/formatting 

• It’s fine to have your name on your published submission or on any PDF page. 

• Choose "compress" when you save your file on your computer to help us save space on our Google Drive. (VIDEO TUTORIAL LINK COMING SOON)

• Do not send the cover image. 

• Name your file: [ENTRY TITLE]_[Category Code] 

• For example, label the file name:  Alice in Wonderland_PMG

• This is critical for the online form submission tracking. Please remove brackets. Do not use the number, just the letters PMG for your category code.

• If you have an alternate book format, please note in the file name with the single word POETRY added at the end of the file name.

• If you have a co-author, you must include their name on the entry form. 

You, as the entrant, will be responsible for communicating and forwarding all information to your co-author, including the certificates that will be mailed to the primary entrant.

ALTERNATE SUBMISSION: You may submit a PDF of the whole book  provided by your publisher, but you must include the synopsis as page 1 of a single PDF. Judges will base critiques on reading the required pages only.

6. UMG - Unpublished Middle Grade

Ages 9–14

(25,000 to 60,000 Words)

Formatting For Unpublished Fiction Manuscripts:

• Submit the first 10 pages of your unpublished manuscript and a one-page synopsis in a single Word Document ONLY for a total of 11 pages. 

• Do not use Pages or other software. Do not send a PDF. 

• Include no more than a one-page, single-spaced synopsis that outlines your entire story as the first page of your document. Add a page break and start page 2 with the manuscript’s first ten pages for 11 pages total.

• Follow the sample formatting layout for all unpublished entries at: https://www.acfwkidlit.com/formatting

• Double-spaced Times New Roman 12-point font for the manuscript.

• Use 1” margins on all sides.

• Format the paragraph indents at .05” from the left margin. Do not use the tab function or spacebar. Do not add a line or extra space between paragraphs or before or after paragraphs.

• Add a header with your title and category code, and add page numbers in the header. (You may need to research how to add a header.)

• Do not put your name on any part of the document or file name.

• Name your file: [ENTRY TITLE]_[Category Code] 

• For example, label the file name:  Alice in Wonderland_UMG

• This is critical for the online form submission tracking. Please remove brackets. Do not use the category number, just the letters UMG for your category code.

• Those using poetic devices for Novels in Verse may format as the poetry demands.

• If you have an alternate book format, please note in the file name with the single word POETRY added at the end of the file name.

• If you have a co-author, you must include their name on the entry form. 

You, as the entrant, will be responsible for communicating and forwarding all information to your co-author, including the certificates that will be mailed to the primary entrant.

Those using poetry or Novels in Verse may format as the poetry demands.

7. PYA - Published Young Adult

Ages 12-18+

(Copyright of 2023 or 2024 only)

Formatting For Published Fiction Books:

• Submit a single PDF document. 

• Include a one-page, single-spaced synopsis that outlines your entire book on page 1. Add a page break. Insert copyright page on page 2. Start page 3 with the first page of your book adding or photocopying the first ten pages of your book, minus dedications or blank pages, to add to your PDF entry. You will have a total of 12 pages.  

• The cover is optional at the end of the PDF file. 

• Indent paragraphs per formatting sample for the synopsis.

• Follow the sample formatting at https://www.acfwkidlit.com/formatting 

• It’s fine to have your name on your published submission or on any PDF page. 

• Choose "compress" when you save your file on your computer to help us save space on our Google Drive. (VIDEO TUTORIAL LINK COMING SOON)

• Do not send the cover image. 

• Name your file: [ENTRY TITLE]_[Category Code] 

• For example, label the file name:  Alice in Wonderland_PYA

• This is critical for the online form submission tracking. Please remove brackets. Do not use the category number, just the letters PYA for your category code.

• If you have an alternate book format, please note in the file name with the single word POETRY added at the end of the file name.

• If you have a co-author, you must include their name on the Google form.

You, as the entrant, will be responsible for communicating and forwarding all information to your co-author, including the certificates that will be mailed to the primary entrant.

ALTERNATE SUBMISSION: You may submit a PDF of the whole book  provided by your publisher, but you must include the synopsis as page 1 of a single PDF. Judges will base critiques on reading the required pages only.

8. UYA - Unpublished Young Adult

Ages 12-18+

(50,000+ Words)

Formatting For Unpublished Fiction Manuscripts:

• Submit the first 10 pages of your unpublished manuscript and a one-page synopsis in a single Word Document ONLY for a total of 11 pages. 

• Do not use Pages or other software. Do not send a PDF. 

• Include no more than a one-page, single-spaced synopsis that outlines your entire story as the first page of your document. Add a page break and start page 2 with the manuscript’s first ten pages for 11 pages total.

• Follow the sample formatting layout for all unpublished entries at: https://www.acfwkidlit.com/formatting

• Double-spaced Times New Roman 12-point font for the manuscript.

• Use 1” margins on all sides.

• Format the paragraph indents at .05” from the left margin. Do not use the tab function or spacebar. Do not add a line or extra space between paragraphs or before or after paragraphs.

• Add a header with your title and category code, and add page numbers in the header. (You may need to research how to add a header.)

• Do not put your name on any part of the document or file name.

• Name your file: [ENTRY TITLE]_[Category Code] 

• For example, label the file name:  Alice in Wonderland_UYA

• This is critical for the online form submission tracking. Please remove brackets. Do not use the category number, just the letters UYA for your category code.

• If you have an alternate book format, please note in the file name with the single word POETRY added at the end of the file name.

• If you have a co-author, you must include their name on the entry form. 

You, as the entrant, will be responsible for communicating and forwarding all information to your co-author, including the certificates that will be mailed to the primary entrant.

Those using poetry or Novels in Verse may format as the poetry demands.