Menu

Novel Prize Rules, Terms and Conditions

The Novel Factory AI-Free book writing software

The New Writers Novel Prize 2026 (in association with The Novel Factory) is open to entries.

If you fancy winning a share of the £1,500 prize fund, with free access to the brilliant Novel Factory writing software, check out the terms and conditions below. Then go to the ENTRY FORM and submit the first 500 words of your unpublished novel or novella.

Enter Now

New Writers Novel Prize 2026 – At A Glance:

  • Deadline: 23.59 (UK time) on Saturday, 31st October 2026
  • Entry Fee: £12 (one entry), £22 (two entries), £31 (three entries)
  • 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) – details in the entry confirmation email
  • Head Judge: Katja Kaine, award-winning author and founder of The Novel Factory*
  • Publication: The three winning entries will be published on the NewWriters.org.uk website and in the New Writers Anthology
  • Word Limit: The opening 500 words of your unpublished novel or novella
  • Eligibility: Open to writers aged 18+ from anywhere in the world; entries must be written in English
  • Theme/Genre: Open to any theme or genre of novels or novellas written for adults or young adults
  • Charity: 10% of entry fee proceeds will be donated to charity, split equally between First Story and The Funzi & Bodo Trust
  • Please read the full Competition Terms & Conditions before entering
  • Winners will be notified by email no later than Friday 18th December 2026. The public announcement of winners and shortlisted entries will also be made by that date.

We want to make the competition accessible to as many writers as possible. We therefore have a limited number of free entries for low-income writers, available on a first-come, first-served basis (up to 22nd October 2026). Please see the terms and conditions below for details.

By entering the New Writers Novel Prize 2026, you agree to adhere to the rules, terms and conditions as detailed on this page.

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

New Writers Novel Prize 2026 – Terms and Conditions

  1. All entries must be received by 23.59 (UK time) on Saturday, 31st October 2026. Any entries received after this time will not be judged or eligible for any prizes, so please don’t be late to the party.
  2. The entry fees are £12 (one entry), £22 (two entries), £31 (three entries). Note that the discounted rate will only apply if the entries are paid for together and submitted together.
  3. 10% of the proceeds from the competition will be donated to charity, split equally between First Story and The Funzi & Bodo Trust.
  4. Entrants can submit a maximum of three entries.
  5. The prizes will be allocated based on the judges’ decision (which is final) as follows: 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 (plus publication).
  6. The Novel Prize 2026 is open to anyone aged 18 years or older (at the time of entry), based anywhere in the world.
  7. We welcome entries from published or unpublished writers alike (as long as your entries to this competition haven’t been published, see point 10).
  8. Entries can be on any theme or subject, but your novel or novella from which the opening 500-word extract is taken must be aimed at adult or young adult readers (i.e. not books for children, and not picture books).
  9. Entries must be written in English and be the original work of the entrant. No AI software or similar will be permitted (checks will be made for plagiarism and AI-generated writing). Obviously, there should be no potentially libellous material contained within any entries.
  10. Entries must be unpublished (including online or social media) and must not have been awarded a prize or won a competition. Any entries that are published, set to be published or that win a prize after the time of entry should be withdrawn, as they will become ineligible to win the New Writers Novel Prize 2026 (entry fees will not be refunded in this scenario).
  11. The maximum word count for entries is 500 words (excluding the title). Any entries that breach the 500-word limit will be disqualified, and no refund will be given (so please double-check before submitting!).
  12. Entries must be submitted online using the Novel Prize Entry Form as an attachment in one of the following file formats: Microsoft Word Document, OpenDocument Text, or PDF (.doc, .docx, .odt, or .pdf). Postal entries will not be accepted (let’s save the trees!).
  13. Your entry file name should be the title of your story. Please do not include your name (or other details about yourself) in the file name or on the entry document itself.
  14. The initial Judges for the competition will be the NewWriters.org.uk editors, who will select the longlisted entries. The Head Judge, Katja Kaine, will select the shortlist and winners. The decision of the judges is final, and no correspondence will be entered into. Any questions or correspondence relating to the competition should be directed to david@newwriters.org.uk, whether before or after the competition deadline.
  15. Entries must be typed in a legible font, ideally one of the more common ones, with a font size of 12pt or 14 pt.
  16. Authors retain full copyright of any submitted story. If your entry makes it into the top three and hence wins a prize, it is assumed you grant a non-exclusive license to NewWriters.org.uk to publish your work online on our website and in a future New Writers Anthology.
  17. Winners and authors who have made the shortlist will be notified by email no later than Friday, 18th December 2026. The public announcement of winners, shortlisted and longlisted entries will also be made no later than this date.
  18. Titles and author names (or specified pen name/alias) of the winners, shortlisted and longlisted entries will be published on the website, along with the three winning entries.
  19. Payment to prize winners will be made by bank transfer (for UK residents) or PayPal payment, to be arranged with the winners, within one week of the announcement of winners (subject to the organisers receiving the relevant information from the winning authors).
  20. If you would like to use a pen name rather than your real name (i.e. if your story is eligible to be published on our website or in the anthology), please add your chosen pen name to the appropriate box on the entry form. Please also add your real name in the appropriate box.
  21. Low Income Entries: A limited number of free entries are available to writers from low-income households (less than £20k per year) and/or in receipt of the following benefits (or equivalent): Job Seeker’s Allowance, Working Tax Credit, Universal Credit, Disability Living Allowance, Carer’s Allowance.
  22. If you would like to apply for a free entry, please email david@newwriters.org.uk before midday (UK time) on 22nd October 2026. Please use ‘Low-Income Entry’ as the subject of the email. We will not ask for proof or additional or personal information about your financial situation.

Please be aware that failure to follow the submission instructions or the terms and conditions will result in your entry being disqualified and no refund will be issued, so please take care. And good luck!