2022 Novel-in-Development Award: THE LONGLIST

Before we announce the list(s), just a few interesting bits of information from entries this year.

We received (according to our form software) 462 entries for the award this year, up from 398 last year.

As always, Fantasy was the most common genre, mentioned on nearly 30% of entries, Adventure, Funny and Contemporary a little behind.

Nearly 30% of entries started with the word ‘The…’

This longlist consists of 37 novels, with 6 Chapter Books, 21 Middle Grade, 3 Teen and 7 Young Adult.

The genres vary considerably from Fantasy and Adventure (always common), to some Crime/Mystery and even some Sci-Fi!

Also a big thanks to our readers – both kid and adults! Obviously I won’t mention the kids names here, but a big thanks to you and your adult who did the emailing on your behalf!

Lastly, as I said in the email to those who entered earlier, if you didn’t list, this will be bad news and looking at the list (if you even come this far) might be tough.

The truth is, we understand – all the WM team and readers are writers and have entered competitions in the past, and not been listed. Even those who win some competitions then don’t get listed in others. It’s truly a mix of luck, taste and timing.

Competitions are a microcosm of the industry in many ways. Initial hope, long wait times, disappointing emails to conclude. But there is always renewed hope, a new competition around the corner, a new agent actively looking for clients, a mentorship programme to apply for.

Luckily, we do provide some feedback so that, unlike many other situations, you will at least understand the decision making of the reader, and have some feedback to digest and then you can look at your work again with that in mind.

Life is about small steps, and steady improvements – none of us will win them all, none of us will get it right all or even most of the time. All we can hope for is to be better tomorrow than we are today.

The longlist (in alphabetical order) is below:

Across The Moonlight BridgeVikki McLean
An Awkward Conversation With HitlerRob Love
ArchitectMegan Hopkins
Captain Tuna and the Nostrils of DoomSarah McDermott
CARRIGAN CARTER AND THE MAP OF MYSTERYEstelle Grace Tudor
Curse of the Grey EyeEmily M. Bailey
Flannan GirlAlison Padley-Woods
George and the DragonsSarah Frend
Grace Hopgood and the Drowned TownRuth Cooper
Hairy HiccupsLaura Mitchell
HAMSTER BOYKayleigh Keam
How to Help a HeroRebecca J. Carlson
Inky’s IslandJoanna Oldman
Kashi and The Thousand Petal LotusBinti Kasilingam
Lexi Lambert’s Suburban Murder SquadJo Dutton
LIFECYCLESteve Blackman
LiminaliaSally Gales
Loser Boy: Destiny Calls!Matt Cowan
MEH TO MAH-VELOUSNJ Corsini
Ortun and the SeakersAngela Yates
Puddle BoyNatasha Raymond
RailersAndrew Stevenson
The All New Alex AndersonLibby Prcha
The Alpaca KidnapperHazel Knox
The Haunting of Sally SpillaneVikki Marshall
The Hourglass ThiefCatherine Cawley
The Magpie’s SongJulia Wakefield
THE MOONGARDENER’S DAUGHTERBruna De Luca
THE SECRETS OF WILDE WATERSKristina Wilson-Brown
The Time KeyDebbie Longstaff
The Undead Journals of Alex AbbottLouise Austin
Uncle Ulric’s Home For Unusual AnimalsJason Lang
Where Our Truth LiesAlice Hodges
Wick WoodLucy Mohan
Woofy Secret Agent-In-TrainingHelen Addyman
You Have Selected Power DriveLucas Maxwell

Readers Favourites

Adult ReadersKid Readers
AshCUSTODIANS OF EARTH
Authentically DollyERIN AND THE KING HERODS MYSTERY
Grace Hopgood and the Drowned TownIt’s All Completely Hopeless
HEIRS & HEIRESSESJack Black and the Space Rats
How to Help a HeroJAT-D
Lexi Lambert’s Suburban Murder SquadMax Brighton and the Alliance of Amazing Illusionists
Loser Boy: Destiny Calls!MI9 and the Missing Scientist
Old MoneyMiss Elder’s Fairy Tale Academy
RoamMy Own Dark Way
Stargran: Attack of the Alien GrandmasOFELIA AND THE NIGHT THEATRE
THE AFTERWOODSOn Display
The Clockmaker’s ApprenticeRoots of Blood and Bone
The Hourglass ThiefScarlett Jenkins and the Case of the Missing Grandmother
The Undead Journals of Alex AbbottShade of Green
Uncle Ulric’s Home For Unusual AnimalsStay And Watch Me Die
Picture ThisThe Afterlife of Juniper Quick
Puddle BoyThe Bee Seekers
The Bookbinder’s Curse
The Clouds
The Company
THE MOONGARDENER’S DAUGHTER
The Relic Divers
THE SECRETS OF WILDE WATERS
The Thing With Anger
The War Between the Peeps and the McClockys
The Wishing Willow
Uncle Ulric’s Home For Unusual Animals
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