Competitions for Young Authors
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.

The Time Traveling Taxi Cab

A writing competition for young writers aged 8 - 16


Imagine hopping into a taxi, only to discover that it has the power to travel through time and space. Where would you go? What incredible sights and adventures would you experience?


Write your very own story about this amazing time-traveling taxi and you could win a £30 Amazon voucher! Our panel of authors will judge the stories, and there will be a grand prize winner.


Competition Details

  • Open to writers aged 8 to 16. Only one entry per child. 
  • Submit a time-travel story of no more than 2000 words.
  • The competition closes at 5pm UK time on September 30th, 2025.
  • Terms and conditions apply.


All accepted stories will be featured in a professionally published anthology, and each contributing author will receive a free e-copy of the book.

Let your imagination run wild, and show us where your time-traveling taxi could take you!

Paper Portals


A writing competition for young writers 

aged 8 - 16


Are you ready to step into a world beyond your imagination? A place where anything is possible—where magical portals open up to other dimensions, planets, and unknown lands?


Introducing Paper Portals—the writing competition for young explorers ages 8 to 16! We’re on the lookout for creative, adventurous stories about portals—special doorways or magical gateways that lead to other worlds, hidden dimensions, or even far-off planets. Whether your story takes place in a new galaxy, a secret world hidden under your bed, or somewhere only your imagination could dream up, we want to hear about it!


Here’s the challenge:


Write a story that explores what happens when a portal appears—what new world does it lead to? How does your main character find it, and what amazing (or scary!) adventure awaits on the other side?

Some ideas to get your imagination flowing:


A portal in an old book: One day, you open a dusty library book and poof—you’re in a jungle made of giant candy! Can you find your way home?

A portal in the attic: You discover a glowing door in your grandmother’s attic that leads to a land where animals talk and magic is real. What will you do when you meet a talking lion who needs your help?

A hidden dimension: You find a mysterious painting in your house, and when you step into it, you’re suddenly in a world full of flying turtles and floating islands. What kind of creatures live here, and what happens when you’re invited to a celebration in the sky?

A secret world beneath the ocean: What if you could dive into the sea and find a portal under the water that leads to an underwater city where mermaids, sea creatures, and sunken ships await?


Whether your adventure is funny, mysterious, or thrilling, the sky's the limit when it comes to the worlds you can create. 


You could travel to the past, the future, or even to a planet where everything is made of clouds or diamonds!


Why Enter Paper Portals?


Have fun and have your story published - You can enjoy creating your very own world—no idea is too wild or too weird! You will get writing experience and a chance to be included in our anthology, you will see your words in print and be able to say you are a published writer!

Challenge yourself - You can be proud of yourself by creating amazing new places, imagining new creatures, lands, and technologies beyond your wildest dreams, this is a great way to learn about the publishing journey writers take and will impress your school teachers no end.

Win a prize


So, grab your pen and get ready to jump through a Paper Portal to a new dimension. 


Where will your imagination take you?


How to Enter:

Who can enter? Kids ages 8-16.

What do you need to do? Write a story about a portal to another dimension, planet, or world.

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

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

Prizes: Every selected submission will receive a free PDF of the book their work is featured in, and a GRAND prize of £30 Amazon voucher will be awarded to one story in each age bracket. There are two age brackets 8- 11 and 12-16 

Don't wait—your very own portal to adventure, prizes and being a published author is just a story away!

Submit


TERMS & CONDITIONS


The Time Traveling Taxi Cab and Paper Portals 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 8-16 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: "The Time Traveling Taxi Cab." or "Paper Portals"

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 above - The Time Travelling Taxi Cab closes at 5pm UK time on September 30th, 2025. Paper Portals closes at 5pm UK time on 2nd February 2026. No entries will be accepted after these times.


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 - 8 to 11 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 Amazon gift voucher.

This gives a total of 4 grand prize winners (1 per Age Group per Competition)

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


Prize Information:

 

Each competition will have 2 winners who will each receive a grand prize winner will receive a £30 Amazon 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.


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