Deadline: 15-Jun-2026
The PEN/Phyllis Naylor Grant for Children’s and Young Adult Novelists is a funding programme designed to support writers working on unpublished novels for children or young adults. The grant provides financial assistance to help authors complete manuscripts that may otherwise remain unfinished due to financial constraints.
The programme specifically supports literary fiction writers whose work has received critical recognition but has not achieved strong commercial sales.
Key Objectives of the Grant
- Support completion of unpublished children’s and YA novels
- Provide financial assistance to working authors in need
- Recognize critically acclaimed but under-commercialized writers
- Encourage high-quality literary contributions to children’s and YA fiction
- Enable writers to continue creative development of manuscript projects
Funding Details
- Grant amount is $5,000 per recipient
- Funding is intended for completion of a single unpublished novel
- Supports writing and development work, not publication or marketing
- Award is designed to provide financial flexibility during manuscript development
Eligible Works
- Children’s fiction
- Young adult fiction
- Single-author novels in progress
- Unpublished manuscripts
- Works not scheduled for publication before April 15, 2027
Ineligible Works
- Graphic novels
- Picture books
- Co-authored manuscripts
- Self-published works
- Previously published novels or completed published works
Who Is Eligible?
- Authors who have published at least one children’s or YA novel
- Publication must be through a U.S. trade publisher
- Writers whose books have received strong critical recognition
- Authors with limited commercial success despite critical acclaim
- Individual applicants only (no co-authored works)
Application Requirements
- Applications must be submitted through Submittable
- Applicants must provide two PDF documents
- Formatting requirements include:
- 12pt Times New Roman font
- Single-spaced text
- 1-inch margins
- Manuscript must be an unpublished work in progress
How the Grant Works: Step-by-Step
- Prepare an eligible unpublished children’s or YA novel manuscript
- Ensure compliance with eligibility criteria and formatting rules
- Submit application via Submittable platform
- Upload required two PDF documents
- Await evaluation by selection committee
- If selected, receive $5,000 grant for manuscript completion
Evaluation Criteria
- Literary quality of published work
- Strength and promise of unpublished manuscript
- Contribution to children’s and YA literature
- Critical recognition of previous publications
- Need for financial support to complete the project
Why This Grant Matters
- Supports high-quality children’s and YA literature
- Helps authors complete important literary works
- Recognizes critically acclaimed but underfunded writers
- Encourages diversity and creativity in youth literature
- Bridges financial gaps in creative writing careers
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting self-published works
- Including graphic novels or picture books
- Applying without prior U.S. trade-published novel
- Submitting co-authored manuscripts
- Ignoring formatting requirements
- Applying with already published or completed manuscripts
Pro Tips
- Highlight critical recognition of past novels
- Clearly demonstrate need for financial support
- Ensure manuscript is well-developed but unfinished
- Follow formatting rules exactly to avoid disqualification
- Focus on literary quality and originality of YA or children’s story
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the grant amount? $5,000 per recipient
- What does the grant support? Completion of an unpublished children’s or YA novel
- Who can apply? Authors with at least one U.S. trade-published children’s or YA novel
- Are self-published books eligible? No
- Can picture books or graphic novels be submitted? No
- What is the submission platform? Submittable
- What are the formatting requirements? 12pt Times New Roman, single spaced, 1-inch margins, two PDF documents
Conclusion
The PEN/Phyllis Naylor Grant for Children’s and Young Adult Novelists provides targeted financial support to critically recognized authors working on unpublished manuscripts. By funding the completion of children’s and YA novels, the grant strengthens literary development in youth fiction and helps ensure that important creative works reach completion despite financial challenges.
For more information, visit PEN America.
