Competitions 

At C.A.A.B Publishing we believe in encouraging as many people as possible to be creative, So we regularly have competitions for young authors open to give people the chance to get writing so they can discover the joy of seeing their work in print.

Tales of the Winter Festival


When winter arrives, the world changes. Snow may soften the streets, lights glow in darkened evenings, and festivals burst into life with music, food, laughter, and traditions old and new. Every place celebrates winter differently, and every celebration holds a story waiting to be told.


Tales of the Winter Festival invites young writers to step into this magical season and share their imagination with the world. Your story might be about a lantern festival glowing against the dark winter sky, a family tradition that warms the coldest night, a mysterious winter carnival, or a celebration from your own culture, or even one you invent entirely. It can be joyful, thrilling, funny, adventurous, cozy, or a little bit spooky. What matters most is your voice.


We are calling on children and young people aged 6–16 from around the world to submit their original winter festival themed stories. Whether you love writing a few paragraphs or penning epic adventures, this is your chance to shine. Stories must be no longer than 2,000 words, so choose your moments carefully and make every sentence sparkle.


This competition celebrates creativity across borders, cultures, and traditions. Winter may look different depending on where you live, but stories have the power to bring us together, just like festivals do (stories must be written in English). 


Prizes are waiting to be won, and the winning stories will be celebrated for their imagination, originality, and creativity. Every selected story will be published in an anthology, see your work in print! 


So, grab a pencil, open your notebook, or start typing. Let the snow fall, the music play, and the festival begin on the page.


Please see terms and conditions for full details.


We can’t wait to read your Tales of the Winter Festival.


How to Enter:

Who can enter? Kids ages 6-16.

What do you need to do? Write a story about a Winter Festival.

Word count: 2,000 words maximum per story - only one entry per child.


Deadline: 5pm (UK Time) 2nd October 2026


Prizes: Every selected submission will receive a free PDF of the book their work is featured in, and a GRAND prize of £30 voucher from our sponsor at Shelf Indulgence (www.shelfindulgence.co.uk) will be awarded to one story in each age bracket. There are two age brackets 6- 10 and 11-16 

Submit


TERMS & CONDITIONS


Winter Festival Writing Competitions


The Promoter: C.A.A.B Publishing Ltd, 5 Braford Square, London, E1 0SG (registered in England and Wales, company number 12484492).

 

Eligibility:

 

The competitions are open to children from around the world aged 6-16 at the time of submission.

Employees of the Promoter, their immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, stepfamily), or anyone professionally associated with the competition are not eligible to win a prize in the competition.


Entry Requirements:

 

Only one entry per person per competition. Multiple entries could result in disqualification.

Entries must be original, unpublished stories of no more than 2,000 words, aligned with the theme of the competition: "Winter Festivals"

Submissions must be in English and provided in WORD DOC. format via the competition website.


Content Restrictions:

 

The story must be suitable for a young audience. Entries containing any dangerous, vulgar, offensive, indecent, illegal, racist, copied, cruel, or fraudulent content, or that infringe the rights of others (e.g., copyright violations) will be disqualified.

The Promoter reserves the right to reject any submission that is deemed inappropriate.

Submissions must not include characters, settings, or plots from copyrighted works owned by others, except where they are used within the scope of established fair use or are part of the public domain. References to existing works or public domain characters may be permitted provided they are used creatively and in a way that does not infringe on existing copyrights. Any submissions deemed to contain unauthorized use of copyrighted material will be disqualified.


Submission Deadline:

 

The competitions will close at the times stated below. Entries submitted after the applicable closing date and time will not be accepted under any circumstances:

  • Winter Festivals: closes at 5:00 p.m. (UK time) on 2 October 2026.


Right to Extend Closing Dates:


CAAB Publishing reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to extend or amend the competition closing dates in the event of unforeseen circumstances or where it is deemed necessary to ensure the proper administration or fairness of the competition. Without limitation, such circumstances may include:

  • Insufficient number of entries received.
  • Technical failures, website downtime, or interruptions to the entry portal.
  • Postal delays or service disruptions (where applicable to postal entries).
  • Circumstances beyond the control of CAAB Publishing, including but not limited to natural disasters, public emergencies, industrial action, pandemics, or government restrictions.
  • Any other factor that CAAB Publishing reasonably considers would materially affect the competition or its ability to administer it fairly.

Any extension or amendment to the closing date will be communicated promptly via the official competition webpage or other official CAAB Publishing communication channels.


Winner Selection:

 

A panel of judges, chosen by the Promoter, will review all eligible entries. The decision of the panel is final.

All chosen entries will be divided into 2 award categories (Category 1 - 6 to 10 years / Category 2 - 11 to 16 years)

One grand prize winner will be selected from the shortlisted entries in each category, these winners will receive a £30 Shelf Indulgence gift voucher.

This gives a total of 2 grand prize winners (1 per Age Group)

The decision on the shortlist and grand prize winner is final and cannot be contested.


Prize Information:

 

The competition will have 2 winners who will each receive a grand prize winner will receive a £30 Shelf Indulgence voucher.

All selected stories will be included in a professionally published anthology. Authors of selected stories will receive a free e-copy of the book their story is featured in. 

There is no cash alternative to the prize, which is non-transferable and cannot be resold.


Publication & Rights:

 

By submitting an entry, entrants agree that C.A.A.B Publishing Ltd has the right to publish the story in any format (e.g., print, digital, audiobook) in the anthology or other related materials.

Entrants retain ownership of their intellectual property, but grant the Promoter a world-wide, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable, royalty-free, and sub-licensable licence to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, or display (in whole or part) the story without royalty or other compensation.

Entrants warrant that their work is original, has not been published elsewhere, and does not infringe upon any third-party rights.


Consent & Parental Permission:

 

By submitting an entry, entrants confirm that they have the permission of a parent or legal guardian to enter the competition and to have their work published.

The parent or legal guardian must provide a valid email when submitting, entries without a valid parental email will be disqualified, entry to the competition confirms permission from parent or guardian for the inclusion of the story in the anthology, if selected.


Data Protection:

 

Personal data submitted by entrants will be handled in accordance with UK data protection laws (GDPR). It will only be used for the administration of the competition and delivery of prizes, unless the entrant has opted into further communication from the Promoter.

Entrants agree that the Promoter may publish the names and regions of winners in accordance with legal obligations.


Limitation of Liability:


The Promoter will not be responsible for lost, late, or misdirected entries due to technical or network issues beyond their control.

The Promoter cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss, or injury suffered by any entrant as a result of participating in the competition or accepting a prize, except in cases of negligence or breach of duty by the Promoter.


Modification and Termination:


The Promoter reserves the right to modify or withdraw the competition at any time, including extending the submission period, without liability or prior notice if circumstances arise outside its reasonable control.


Governing Law:


These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales, and disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.


General:


By entering the competition, entrants agree to abide by these terms and conditions and confirm that all information provided is accurate and complete. Any breach of these terms may result in disqualification.


The Promoter reserves the right to disqualify any entrant or entry that does not comply with these terms and conditions.