New Writers Novel Prize 2026

• Deadline: 23:59 (UK time) on Saturday 31st October 2026
• Entry Fee: £12 per entry; (£22 for two entries, £31 for three entries, when submitted together)
• Prizes: 1st: £1,000 + Lifetime Access to The Novel Factory (Version 3); 2nd: £300 + 12-month Standard Subscription to The Novel Factory; 3rd: £200 + 12-month Basic Subscription to The Novel Factory
• All entrants: 30% discount off The Novel Factory* writing software (annual or lifetime subscriptions)
• Publication: The three winning entries will be published on the NewWriters.org.uk website and in the next New Writers Anthology
• Word Limit: The opening 500 words of your unpublished novel or novella
• Head Judge: Katja Kaine, award-winning author and The Novel Factory founder
• Charity: 10% of all proceeds will be donated to charity (split between First Story and the Funzi & Bodo Trust)
• Category: Novel Competitions
• Competition Website: newwriters.org.uk/novel-prize

The inaugural New Writers Novel Prize (in association with The Novel Factory) is open to entries, and we’re seeking the opening 500 words of your unpublished novel or novella. You don’t have to have finished as you’ll only be judged on the first 500 words. But it could prove to be an excellent opportunity to at least make a solid start to your first (or next) novel.

Note that all entrants will be given a 30% discount when purchasing an annual subscription or a lifetime licence to The Novel Factory. It’s probably our favourite writing software available, not least because it is complete free of AI. You can read our Review of The Novel Factory for more information.

Novel Prize – Key Details

• Open to the first 500 words of your unpublished novel or novella in any genre from writers (18+) living anywhere in the world
• First prize: £1,000 plus Lifetime Access to The Novel Factory (Version 3)
• Head Judge: Katja Kaine, award-winning author and founder of The Novel Factory

Entry Fees

• £12 – One entry | £22 – Two entries (save £2) | £31 – Three entries (save £5)

Prizes

• First Prize: £1,000 + Lifetime Access to The Novel Factory (Version 3)
• Second Prize: £300 + 12-month Standard Subscription to The Novel Factory
• Third Prize: £200 + 12-month Basic Subscription to The Novel Factory
• All Entrants: 30% discount off annual subscriptions or lifetime licences to The Novel Factory (Version 3) writing software

 Publication

• The three winning entries will be published on the NewWriters.org.uk site and in a future issue of the New Writers Anthology.

 Additional Recognition

• 10 Shortlisted; 30+ Longlisted

 Supporting Charities

•  10% of all entry fee proceeds will be donated to charity, split equally between:
  • First Story – supporting creative writing opportunities for young people
  • The Funzi & Bodo Trust – supporting education and community projects in Kenya

Accessibility

• A limited number of free entries are available for writers on low incomes, helping ensure the competition is open to talented writers regardless of financial circumstances. See the Competitions Terms and Conditions for details.

*Note: if you click through to The Novel Factory site and purchase the software, they will give New Writers UK a small commission.

Good luck!