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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20260416T141802Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T141802Z
UID:13995-1780185600-1780271999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:First Novel Prize 2026
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23.59 (UK time) 31st May 2026\nEntry Fee: £25 per entry\nPrizes: First prize: £1\,000; Shorlist Prize: £500\nWord Limit: 5\,000 words plus synopsis\nJudges: Hayley Steed (Literary Agent at Janklow & Nesbit UK)\, Sally Williamson (Editorial Director at Transworld)\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website: https://www.firstnovel.co.uk/\n\nIn its 11th consecutive year\, the First Novel Prize aims to discover an original new voice in fiction writing\, across the English language world. The 2026 edition of the First Novel Prize is now open for entries of up to 5\,000 words (plus a synopsis) of you novel.  \nThe competition features two excellent judges: Hayley Steed\, Literary Agent at Janklow & Nesbit UK\, one of the UK’s leading agencies\, and Sally Williamson. Editorial Director at Transworld\, part of Penguin Random House UK. Check out the competition website for the full details.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/first-novel-prize/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20260413T095809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T142152Z
UID:1585-1780185600-1780271999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:BPA First Novel Award 2026
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 31st May 2026\nEntry Fee: £25 (some free places are available to writers on low incomes)\nPrizes: Winner: £1\,500 + Agent Introduction; Runner up: £500 + Agent Introduction; Most Promising Talent: £250\nWord Limit: 5\,000 words plus a 300 word synopsis and a covering letter\nJudges: Olivia Maidment (Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency) and novelist Freya Bromley\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website:  bluepencilagency.com/blue-pencil-agency-annual-competitions/bpa-first-novel-award-2026\n\nThe BPA First Novel Award is run by the Blue Pencil Agency who offer a range of services for authors including manuscript assessment\, mentoring and copy editing. They also run events for writers. The winners of the competition will receive cash prizes (with £1\,500 to the winner)\, but arguably more valuable than the dish is the additional prize in each case: an introduction to a literary agent.  \nThe competition judges for 2026 are literary agent Olivia Maidment (Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency) and novelist Freya Bromley. \nNote that as well as submitting the opening chapter or chapters of your novel (up to a maximum of 5\,000 words)\, you should also include a 300-word synopsis and a covering letter – each on separate documents. As always with writing competitions\, ensure you check the submission information carefully and comply with spacing/font requirements. \nNote that there are at least 20 free entries available for low income writers\, details of which can be found on the competition page below the ‘How to submit’ section.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/bpa-first-novel-award/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20260401T082347Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260401T082617Z
UID:13774-1780185600-1780271999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Hay Festival Room to Write
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 12pm (BST) on 31 May 2026\nEntry Fee: FREE\nEligibility: UK-based published writers of fiction or non-fiction or poetry (at least one book) aged 18+\nPrizes: Eight writers will each win an Airbnb coupon worth £1\,500\nWord Limit: Entrants must provide a description of their work (max 500 words)\, a short writing sample (max 500 words)\, and a brief writer biography (max 200 words)\nPrompt: Write a story that includes change or transformation.\nCategory: Short Story\, Flash Fiction\, Poetry\, Novel\, Non-Fiction Competitions\nCompetition Website: https://www.hayfestival.com/room-to-write\n\nIn the UK’s National Year of Reading\, Airbnb will partner with arts charity Hay Festival to launch Room to Write – a new writing award.\nRooted in Hay Festival’s commitment to nurturing contemporary writing and Airbnb’s mission to enable meaningful travel and connection\, Room to Write champions creativity and the importance of place and space in storytelling.\nDeveloped with Hay Festival to support writers at a critical stage in their career\, the Room to Write award recognises that time\, space\, and a change of environment are essential to fuel creativity and often inaccessible due to financial or personal constraints.\nOpen to UK-based writers\, the award offers eight recipients an Airbnb coupon worth £1\,500\, enabling them to stay in a UK location of their choosing to support focused writing.\nApplications for the award are open now here\, closing Sunday 31 May. See the website for detailed full terms and conditions.\nAn accompanying digital content series\, recorded at the Festival’s flagship UK edition\, 21–31 May\, will feature established writers sharing their top writing tips and reflections on the role of place in storytelling\, to engage a wider audience in creative inspiration.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/hay-festival-room-to-write/
CATEGORIES:Flash Fiction Competitions,Non-fiction Competitions,Novel Competitions,Poetry Competitions,Short Story Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20251019T102308Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T101429Z
UID:1328-1780185600-1780271999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Bridport Prize 2026 - Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel Award
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23.59 (UK time) on 31 May 2026\nEntry Fee: £26 per entry\nPrizes: First prize: £1\,500; second prize: £750; three further prizes of £150; plus publication and manuscript/extract appraisal\nWord Limit: 8\,000 words max (5\,000 minimum) plus 300-word synopsis. (Title not included in the word count.)\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website: bridportprize.org.uk/the-competition/novel-award\n\nCompetition Details\nThe Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel Award\, to give the Bridport Prize Novel Award’s official name\, is one of the most sought-after prizes in literature.  If ever there was a prize win on a CV to make an agent or publisher take note\, the Bridport is it. \nWhile the £1\,500 top prize is significantly less (and the £24 entry fee significantly more) than for the Short Story Prize\, the doors opened by a win or even a shortlist in the Peggy Chapman-Andrews makes it well worth entering. \nTo enter you need to submit an extract of between 5\,000 and 8\,000 words from the opening chapters of your novel\, plus a 300-word synopsis. If you make it to the longlist\, you’ll then need to submit 15\,000 words (including your initial submission); then if you make the shortlist you’ll need to send in a total of 30\,000 words. So\, if you fancy your chances of winning this one\, don’t enter unless you have made significant progress with your novel. \nAs well as the prizes mentioned above\, the top five entries will receive appraisal from The Literary Consultancy and the winner will also gain a consultation with literary agent A.M. Health and publisher Headline\, which could prove invaluable (though there are no promises you’ll get a publishing deal out of it!). \nThe following additional prizes may also apply to entrants who fit certain criteria: \nYoung Writer Award £500 – For the highest placed writer aged 16 to 25 in poetry\, short story\, flash fiction and novel. \nNever Too Late Award – This £500 award is given to the highest placed writer aged 60+ in Poetry\, Short Story\, Novel and Flash Fiction. The winning piece will feature in our anthology\, which counts as being published and opens doors with literary agents and publishers. It also accesses other competitions not available to the public. \nDorset Award £100 – Given to the highest placed Dorset writer in poetry\, short story\, flash fiction and novel. Sponsored by The Bookshop\, Bridport.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/bridport-prize-novel/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20240319T145830Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260409T093620Z
UID:1512-1780185600-1780271999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Bath Novel Award 2026
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23:59 (UK time) on 31 May 2026\nEntry Fee: £33 (some sponsored places are available)\nPrizes: 1st Place: £5\,000 plus and a trophy; all shortlisted entrants win feedback on their full manuscript; online novel editing course (worth £1\,980) for one longlisted entrant\nWord Limit: Opening 5\,000 words plus one page synopsis\nJudge: Amanda Harris – Literary Agent\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website:  bathnovelaward.co.uk/the-bath-novel-award-international-writing-prize/\n\nThe Bath Novel Award has been running since 2013 and is one of the most prestigious novel competitions for unpublished authors in the UK (along with a handful of others including the Bridport Prize). And for 2025\, the top prize is once again a very tidy sum of £5\,000. \nEntries should include up to 5\,000 words of your novel along with a one-page synopsis. The entry fee of £33 is on the high side when it comes to writing competitions. But then the judges and readers need to assess 5\,000 words for each entry (rather than something like 300 for many flash fiction entries)\, so it is understandable. And the top prize of £5\,000 is also very nice indeed. There are also some sponsored entries for low income writers\, details of which can be found HERE.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/bath-novel-award/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260502
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260503
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20260226T102834Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260422T101414Z
UID:13425-1777680000-1777766399@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Mo Siewcharran Prize 2026
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 11:59PM on 2nd May 2026\nEntry Fee: FREE\nEligibility: Entrants must be unagented and previously unpublished\, aged 18 or over\, resident in the UK and from a Black\, Asian\, mixed heritage and/or multiple ethnic background.\nPrizes: First prize: £2\,500 plus editorial feedback\, a meeting with a literary agent and more; second prize: £1\,500 plus feedback and mentoring; third prize: £750\, feedback and a hamper\nWord Limit: Up to the first 10\,000 words of the novel plus a synopsis of up to 700 words.\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website: thefuturebookshelf.co.uk/tfb-blog/2026/01/07/bookouture-to-host-the-mo-siewcharran-prize-2026\n\nHachette UK’s The Future Bookshelf is running the Mo Siewcharran Prize for its sixth year to help discover unpublished fiction writers from Black\, Asian\, mixed heritage and/or multiple ethnic backgrounds. For 2026\, the prize will be hosted by Bookouture and we are looking for page-turning commercial fiction within the genres of psychological thriller and romantic fiction. \nThe initiative\, named in memory of NielsenIQ BookData’s former Director of Marketing and Communications\, aims to nurture talent from under-represented backgrounds writing in English. Run as part of Hachette UK’s The Future Bookshelf scheme\, the prize was launched in 2019. \nThe Judges are: Ellen Gleeson (Publishing Director at Bookouture)\, Hennah Sandhu (former co-chair of Thrive\, Hachette UK’s network for Black\, Asian and Mixed Heritage employees and allies)\, Leodora Darlington (editor\, Bookseller Rising Star\, and author of The Exes)\, Silé Edwards (Literary Agent at Andrew Nurnberg Associates)\, and Jenn Li (book influencer @bookmarkonthewall). \nJudges will be looking for:\n– A well-written and entertaining piece of writing\n– A page-turning story that will speak to romance or psychological thriller readers\n– An attention-grabbing concept\, also known as the hook\n– A compelling plot that drives us through the story\n– Memorable characters that readers care for\n– The submission must be aimed at adults.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/mo-siewcharran-prize/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260405
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260406
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20260101T091152Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260109T102025Z
UID:7530-1775347200-1775433599@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:New2theScene Winter Novel Competition 2026
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 5th April 2026\nEntry Fee: £18\nPrizes: A professional line edit on the first 3\,000 words of your submission; a developmental workshop to structure your novel; a podcast interview\, discussing your story\, journey and ambitions; first 3\,000 words published in an anthology; your entry submitted to a literary professional\, bypassing the slush pile; an ‘Origins’ blog\, introducing you to an audience; a relationship with New2theScene – supporting any publication\, introducing you to a community through blogs/posts\, and potential future projects; £50 vouchers for the New2theScene bookstore.\nWord Limit: First 3\,000 words of a novel and a one-page synopsis\nJudge: Guest author\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website: new2thescene.co.uk/competition-information/novel\n\nNew2theScene is a platform for the discovery of new or not yet familiar literary talent. They sell the books of authors who aren’t bestsellers (yet)\, promoting them through their podcast\, articles\, blogs\, social media and so on. Their Novel Competition for unpublished writers will be open to entries from 1st January to 5th April 2026.  \nThe winner will gain a professional line edit on the first 3000 words of their submission; a developmental workshop to structure their novel; a podcast interview\, discussing their story\, journey and ambitions; the first 3\,000 words will also be published in an anthology. On top of that\, the winner’s entry will be submitted to a literary professional\, bypassing the slush pile and an ‘Origins’ blog will be written about the winner\, introducing them to an audience. All that adds up to a fantastic opportunity for a budding novelist.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/new2thescene-novel-competition/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260331
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260401
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20260109T102756Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260109T103044Z
UID:12579-1774915200-1775001599@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:WriteMentor Novel and Picture Book Awards
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23.59 (UK time) on Tuesday 31st March 2026\nEntry Fee: £12\nPrizes: 1st Place: £500 and 45-minute one-to-one consultation with an agent.\nWord Limit: First 3\,000 words of a novel and a one-page synopsis\, or completed manuscript for picture books\nJudges: Picture Book Category Judge – Lorna Hemingway; Children’s Category Judge – Lucy Irvine; Adult Category Judge – Clare Wallace\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website: write-mentor.com/writementor-writing-awards\n\nIn partnership with Darley Anderson Agency\, the WriteMentor 2026 Novel and Picture Book Award is looking for new writing talent in children’s\, young adult\, and adult fiction. Now in its eighth year\, this writing award invites entries worldwide within three categories: Picture Books\, Children’s (Chapter Books\, Middle Grade\, Young Adult)\, and Adult fiction. \nThe winner of each category will receive a £500 cash prize\, a 45-minute one-to-one virtual consultation with the agent judge for that category\, and a one-year free membership to the Hub\, WriteMentor’s online membership platform\, worth £150. The consultation will consist of a 15-minute discussion of the winning entry and 30 minutes for additional questions\, including industry insights and career guidance. \nThe awards offer both a standard entry and a feedback entry.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/writementor-novel-picture-book-awards/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260227
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260228
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20260120T144755Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T144755Z
UID:12683-1772150400-1772236799@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Story Star Standard's Founding Competition
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23.59 (UK time) on Friday 27th February 2026\nEntry Fee: Free\nPrizes: Several prizes including a full professional book review\, an official Story Star Standard star rating\, and a permanent listing within our website’s Indie Book Catalogue (see competition site for full details)\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website: thestorystarstandard.com/launch-competition\n\nCompetition Details\nHosted by The Story Star Standard\, the Founding Competition is designed to highlight high-quality indie books in today’s crowded market. Indie authors who have published a book (whether as recently as this year or as long ago as a decade or more)\, as well as those scheduled within the next six months are invited to submit 10\,000 words of their manuscript along with a synopsis.  \nFrom these submissions\, a selection of authors will be invited to submit their full manuscript. From this group\, the chosen winners will receive a full\, in-depth professional review\, a Story Star badge\, a permanent place on The Story Star Standard’s Indie Book Catalogue\, and they will be featured on The Story Star Standard’s platform in whichever format the author is most comfortable with: from written blog posts to interviews. One title among the winners will be named the Winner of The Story Star Standard Founding Competition.  \nAll authors must be indie published\, either through self-publishing or a small press. Any word counts and genres are welcome\, with the exception of non-fiction\, children’s books\, and poetry. All work must be human-written and we the competition does not accept A.I. work.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/story-star-standard-competition/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260105
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260106
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20251019T130027Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251110T101941Z
UID:6548-1767571200-1767657599@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Marlowe and Christie Novel Prize
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 5th January 2025\nEntry Fee: £19 Early Bird Entry (until 5th November 2025) then £24 for standard entry (until 5th January 2026). Feedback options available.\nPrizes: Winner: £1\,200/$1\,600; Top Three: Feedback from Alec Shane\, literary agent with Writers House\, Jenny Hewson\, literary agent from Lutyens & Rubinstein\, and Guest Reviewer Katie Seaman\, Developmental Editor and Former Commissioning Editor at HQ. The ten shortlisted entries will receive written feedback from Patrick Gleeson.\nWord Limit: Up to 3\,000 words from the opening of your novel\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website:  marloweandchristie.com\n\nThe Marlowe and Christie Novel Prize is open to unpublished novelists and is seeking the opening 3\,000 words from your novel. Entries can be on any subject and in any style or genre. DEADLINE AND FEE: Early-Bird Deadline 5th November 2025: £19.00; Final Deadline 5th January 2026: £24.00. Entrants will be notified of the results by 5th April. \nThe head judge is Patrick Gleeson\, author of Hattie Brings the House Down\, published in 2024 by Bedford Square Publishers\, who will be giving feedback on each of the 10 shortlisted entries. The top three entries will also receive feedback from Alec Shane\, literary agent with Writers House\, Jenny Hewson\, literary agent from Lutyens & Rubinstein and Guest Reviewer Katie Seaman\, Developmental Editor and Former Commissioning Editor at HQ. \nIn addition to the standard entry option\, there are several entry options that include feedback (for additional fees): Bronze (with one paragraph of feedback)\, Silver (with one page of feedback)\, and Gold (with one page of feedback and a 20-minute Zoom call). You see the full details on the competition site.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/marlowe-christie-novel-prize/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260101
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260102
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20251110T104043Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251110T104043Z
UID:12037-1767225600-1767311999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Exeter Novel Prize
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23.59 (UK time) on 1st January 2026\nEntry Fee: £20\nPrizes: First prize: £1\,000; five finalists receive £100\nWord Limit: Up to 10\,000 words plus synopsis\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nHead Judge: Hellie Ogden – Literary Agent\nCompetition Website:  wordkitchen.org.uk/exeter-novel-prize\n\nThe Exeter Novel Prize is international and open to writers who are not represented by an agent.\nEntries should submitted via the submission page in the Word Kitchen website. Entries cost £20. There is also the option – for an extra fee – to receive a detailed appraisal of your submission (cost: £150 for entry fee and appraisal.) \nThe first prize is £1\,000 and five runners up each receive £100. The word limit for entries is 10\,000 words plus a short synopsis. The novel should not have been published by a traditional publishing house.  \nThe winners will be chosen by Hellie Ogden Head Of The Book Dept at WME literary agency. Any queries should be sent to: wordkitchencomms@gmail.com.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/exeter-novel-prize/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251231
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260101
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20250929T133858Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250929T133858Z
UID:11484-1767139200-1767225599@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Farnham’s First Five Pages Writing Competition
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23.59 (UK time) on Wednesday 31st December 2025\nEntry Fee: £10 per entry\nPrizes: First prize:  £1000 + a Literary Critique; Second place: £300; Third place: £200\nWord Limit: First 5 pages of a novel and a 250-word synopsis\nJudges: BA Paris\, Sue Stephenson\, Melanie Whipman\, Guy Morpuss and Louise Morrish\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website: farnhamliteraryfestival.co.uk/literary-writing-competition\n\nFarnham’s First Five Pages writing competition is part of the annual Farnham Literary Festival which will take place from 5th – 15th March 2026.  \nEntrants are asked to submit the first 5 pages of their novel and a 250-word synopsis\, their work does not have to be finished. There is no set theme or style of writing however the entry should be an unpublished\, original story. The judges will agree on a longlist of 20 submissions and 10 will be shortlisted. The longlist announcement will be made on Monday 16th February 2026\, the shortlist announcement on Friday 27th February 2026 and the results on Sunday 15th March 2026. An award ceremony will be held on Sunday 15th March 2025 at Farnham Town Hall.  \nParticipants must be 18 and over\, an unpublished writer (self-published writers are eligible\, but the work itself must not be published anywhere). Only fiction work will be accepted and must be original. All entries are judged anonymously.  \nThe entries will be judged by authors BA Paris\, Sue Stephenson\, Melanie Whipman\, Guy Morpuss and Louise Morrish.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/farnhams-first-five-pages-writing-competition/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251101
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251102
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20250703T073850Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260519T122552Z
UID:10274-1761955200-1762041599@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Ascent Novel Prize
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23:59 (UK time) on 1st November 2025\nEntry Fee: £29\nPrizes: 1st Place: £1\,000; Every entry is guaranteed a personalised paragraph of feedback.\nWord Limit: Opening 3\,000 words plus a one-page synopsis and a single-line pitch (all on the same document)\nJudges: Ajebowale Roberts (Senior Commissioning Editor\, Tor UK); Liza DeBlock (Literary Agent\, Greenstone Literary)\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website:  ascentnovelprize.com\n\nAscent Novel Prize is a writing competition for aspiring novelist\, but with a difference as every entrant will receive personalised feedback. In addition\, writers from under-represented backgrounds are able to select whether they want to enter the under-represented writers’ awards\, for free. These additional accolades are sponsored by independent bookshop\, Messrs Fletcher and Frost and a range of professionals from the industry.  \nWith a pair of exceptional judges (Ajebowale Roberts – Senior Commissioning Editor\, Tor UK and Liza DeBlock – Literary Agent\, Greenstone Literary)\, and a host of brilliant readers\, this new novel prize promises to unearth some real gems from new writers. We are particularly impressed by the additional awards for under-represented writers\, which could give a leg-up to those who might ordinarily find it especially tough to make it in the cut-and-thrust world of publishing.  \nNote that Ascent Novel Prize welcomes entries from writers across the globe\, aged 18 years and over and the competition is for writers who have no agent and have not accepted an offer of publication for a novel. \nGood luck!
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/ascent-novel-prize/
LOCATION:VirtualLocation
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251020
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251021
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20250910T102736Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250910T134125Z
UID:11172-1760918400-1761004799@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Eyelands Book Awards 2025
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 20th October 2025\nEntry Fee: €40\nPrizes: Five-day stay in Athens (winners of the Published Books and Writers’ Choice categories); lots more prizes for the various categories\nWord Limit: 250\,000 words / 250 pages (check by category)\nCategory: Novel\, Non-fiction\, Poetry Competitions\nCharity: 1 euro from every submission will be donated to United Nations Refugee Agency Greece\nCompetition Website:  eyelandsawards.com\n\nThe Eyelands Book Awards is running for the eighth year and is open to writers from all over the world. There are several categories to choose from: \nAWARD CATEGORIES (select one per entry application): \nThe following are eligible: \n1/Full-length books of fiction (Novels or novellas of any genre)\n2/Collections of short stories by one author\n3/Collected and selected poems\n4/Historical fiction – Memoir\n5/Children’s and YA books – Graphic Novels\n6/ LGBTQIA+ (texts of any genre with main theme related to the community)\n7/ Sci-Fi – Crime/Thriller – Horror (Novels or novellas)\n8/ Self-published books      \nPRIZES\n– Grand prize (published books): Five-day stay in Athens.\n– Grand prize (writers’ choice): Five-day stay in Athens.\n– Grand prize (unpublished books): Translation into Greek and publication from Strange Days Books.\n– 14 more prizes\, also win a handmade ceramic designed especially for Eyelands Book Awards!\n– Certification document for every prize winner.\n– Online publication for selected texts of prize-winning books.\n– Translation into Greek for poetry & short stories prize winners!\n– Video promotion across our social media for grand prize & prize winners.\n– There will be at least five finalists for each category. \nCheck out the competition site for the full details and to enter.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/eyelands-book-awards/
LOCATION:VirtualLocation
CATEGORIES:Non-fiction Competitions,Novel Competitions,Poetry Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251015
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251016
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20250525T085330Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250604T092227Z
UID:385-1760486400-1760572799@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Caledonia Novel Award 2026
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: Midnight (UK time) on 15 October 2025\nEntry Fee: £28\nPrizes: 1st Place: £1\,500 plus an exclusive framed award (designed by Edinburgh artist Lucy Roscoe); Special Prize: a free place on a residential writing course (best novel from the UK and Ireland); Highly Commended: £500\nWord Limit: First 20 pages + 200-word synopsis\nJudge: Alice Lutyens\, literary agent at Curtis Brown\nAssociate Judge: Rosie Pierce\, associate agent at Curtis Brown\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website:  thecaledonianovelaward.com\n\nCompetition Details\nThe Caledonia Novel Award is open to entries from 15th May 2025 and will close to entries at midnight UK time on 15th October 2025.  \nTechnically this is the 2026 competition (as the shortlist will be announced in February 2026 and the winner announced later in the same month). You can see details of the 2025 winner and shortlist at their website. \nAs mentioned\, the entry fee is £28 and the top prize is £1\,500\, plus there’s a free place on a residential writing course up for grabs for the top entry from the UK or Ireland. The week-long writing course would take place at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre which is based in the Scottish Highlands. There’s also a £500 prize for a Highly Commended entry. \nOther Things To Note\nThere is no restriction in terms of genre as long as the novel is aimed at adults or young adults. The finished novel must be at least 50\,000 words\, though you should only send in the first 20 pages (plus a synopsis) when entering. The competition is open to unpublished and self-published novelists only and also only those who don’t have an agent at the time of entry. \nThe longlist will be announced on 2 December 2025. Longlisted authors will be invited to submit the full manuscript of their novel by 8 December 2025.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/caledonia-novel-award/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250914
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250915
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20250901T101252Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250901T101252Z
UID:11088-1757808000-1757894399@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Irish Writers Centre International Debut Novel Competition
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 14th September 2025\nEntry Fee: €65 (or €58.50 Irish Writers Centre members)\nPrizes: 12 winners are given the opportunity to skip the queue and pitch their novels face-to-face or zoom-to-zoom to publishers and agents\nWord Limit: submit a 5\,000-word extract of their novel\, as well as a 500-word synopsis\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website:  irishwriterscentre.ie/international-debut-novel-competition\n\nThe Irish Writers Centre International Debut Novel Competition is open to entries of debut novels until 14th September. It’s a great opportunity to skip the slush pile\, but the entry fee is a little on the steep side in our view\, especially given there’s no cash prize. On the other hand\, previous winners have benefitted greatly\, including Lauren Mackenzie who won in 2021 and said it changed her life.  \nIf you are confident your debut novel is ready to present to potential agents\, this could be a good option. In which case\, you need to submit the opening 5\,000 words and the synopsis. Be sure to read the full terms and conditions before you enter.  \nKey Dates\n– Submissions\, via Submittable\, are open between Friday 1 August and Sunday 14 September at 11.59pm.\n– 12 winners will be notified by The Phone Call on Friday 14 November 2025. The winners will be asked to send us 50\,000 words of their manuscript as proof that it is completed before by 21 Nov.\n– The Online Prep Day will take place on Friday 28 November 2025.\n– The Pitch Days will take place on Thursday 4 December November and Friday 5 December 2025\, a two-day hybrid event where the 12 International Debut Novel Competition winners will be given the opportunity to pitch their debut novels to national and international publishers and literary agents.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/irish-writers-centre-international-novel-competition/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250731
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250801
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20250522T132930Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250522T132930Z
UID:9904-1753920000-1754006399@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:The Novelry: The Next Big Story - £75\,000 Prize
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 31 July 2025\nEntry Fee: £15\nPrizes: 1st Place: £75\,000; the winner and seven runners-up\, will receive The\nFinished Novel Course.\nWord Limit: Opening 1\,500 words (three pages)\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website:  thenovelry.com/prize\n\nThe Novelry is pushing the boat all the way out with The Next Big Story prize. Almost unbelievably\, the top prize is a whopping £75\,000! (That’s more than the Booker Prize winner gets!) And you don’t even have to have finished your novel. \nAll you need is the idea for a story and the first thee pages of what could be a novel.\nOne grand winner will scoop the £75\,000 prize and\, along with seven runners-up\, will receive The\nFinished Novel Course to create\, write\, and edit their novel with our all-star cast of writing coaches and former Big Five editors for submission to our partner literary agencies. \nThe judging panel includes movers and shakers from the book world\, including Emma Roberts\,\nTayari Jones\, Zibby Owens\, Julia Quinn\, Zosia Mamet\, Brady Lockerby\, Yann Martel\, Carley Fortune\,\nJackie Oshry\, and Kimmy Nwokorie. They’ll be looking for the next big story. Could it be yours? \nThis is an opportunity that might seem too good to be true\, but we’ve checked it carefully\, and it is true! So if you want to write The Next Big Story\, get involved today. \nThe Novelry is the global fiction writing school offering courses\, coaching\, and community to help\nthe next generation of writers become authors. Founded by Booker Prize-listed author Louise Dean\, with a team of bestselling authors and book editors from Big Five publishing houses offering direct submission to leading literary agencies. The Novelry helps writers find their stories and go from book idea to book deal. Learn more at: thenovelry.com
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/novelry-next-big-story/
LOCATION:VirtualLocation
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250601
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20240119T091131Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250513T085749Z
UID:4171-1748649600-1748735999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Goldfinch Novel Award 2025
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 11.59 (UK time) 31st May 2025\nEntry Fee: £10 per entry\nPrizes: First prize: £500\nWord Limit: 3\,000 words from the beginning of a completed novel plus one-page synopsis\nJudge: James Mustelier\, Literary Agent and Editorial Consultant at The Bent Agency\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website: goldfinch-books.com/novel\n\nIndependent bookshop Goldfinch Books are once again running their Novel Award in 2025. \nThe Goldfinch Novel Award 2025 is a prize for emerging authors (aged 16+) with completed young adult or adult novels. This competition is open to authors nationwide and will have a prize of £500 for the winning novel\, chosen by judge James Mustelier\, Literary Agent and Editorial Consultant at The Bent Agency. \nWith a reasonable entry fee of £10\, and a longlist announcement soon after the deadline\, this could be an excellent opportunity for aspiring authors. Note that longlisted authors to submit full manuscript of completed novels within a week of longlist announcement.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/goldfinch-novel-award/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://newwriters.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Goldfinch-Novel-Award.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250430
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250501
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20241121T090656Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241121T093023Z
UID:7368-1745971200-1746057599@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Oxford/42 New Writing Prize
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 30th April 2025\nEntry Fee: FREE\nPrizes: £1500 plus professional representation by 42\nWhat to Submit: synopsis (up to 300 words)\, an elevator pitch (up to two sentences)\, plus one of: Novel (first 10\,000-15\,000 words); Stage or radio play (complete script of 30-90 pages); Screenplays (script of 30-60 pages for TV show or feature-length film script of 90 pages).\nEligibility: Open to anyone over the age of 18 living\, working or studying in the UK and Ireland\nCategory: Children’s Book Competitions\nCompetition Website:  https://www.42mp.com/page/oxford-42-new-writing-prize\n\nThe Oxford/42 New Writing Prize is a multi-disciplinary storytelling competition and is being run by 42 (a management and production company) in conjunction with The Faculty of English at the University of Oxford. \nTo enter the competition\, you need to submit a synopsis (up to 300 words) and an elevator pitch of no more than two sentences for a work of fiction\, along with one of the following (in Word format):\n– Novel – the first 10\,000 to 15\,000 words\n– Stage or radio play – a complete script of between 30 and 90 pages\n– Screenplays – a script of between 30 and 60 pages for episode one of a TV show or a complete feature-length film script of 90 pages. \nThey have a fantastic panel of judges from literature\, stage and screen including Abby Ajayi\, creator of “Riches” (ITVX and Amazon) and writer on Emmy nominated “Inventing Anna” (Netflix); Chris Chibnall\, creator of “Broadchurch” (ITV)\, “Doctor Who” Showrunner\, and author of DEATH AT THE WHITE HART (Penguin 2025); Robert Douglas-Fairhurst\, author of METAMORPHOSIS and Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford; and Rona Munro\, award-winning dramatist of “The James Plays” and “Oranges and Sunshine”. \nSee the competition site for details of entry and the full terms and conditions.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/oxford-42-new-writing-prize/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://newwriters.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/THE-OXFORD-42-NEW-WRITING-PRIZE.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250331
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250401
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20250117T074429Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250117T080040Z
UID:7783-1743379200-1743465599@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:DRF Writers Award 2025
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 31st March 2025\nEntry Fee: FREE\nPrizes: 1st Place: £10\,000; Two runners-up: £1\,000 each\nWord Limit: 15\,000-20\,000 words of a work in progress\, fiction or non-fiction\nEligibility: Entrants must reside within the British Commonwealth or Eire\nCategory: Novel Competitions\, Non-fiction Competitions\nJudges: Erica Wagner (chair)\, writer and literary critic; Inua Ellams\, poet\, playwright and curator; Natalie Haynes\, writer and broadcaster\nCompetition Website:  deborahrogersfoundation.org/writers-award\n\nThe 2025 DRF Writers Award\, organised and administered by the Deborah Rogers Foundation\, gives £10\,000 to a previously unpublished writer whose submission of 15\,000- 20\,000 words demonstrates literary talent and who needs financial support to complete their first book. The submitted work can be fiction\, non-fiction\, children’s or short stories. Applicants must reside in the British Commonwealth or Eire. The winner receives £10\,000 and the two shortlisted authors £1\,000 each.  \nThis is a fantastic opportunity for talented writers who need extra financial assistance to enable them to complete their work of fiction or non-fiction. Check the competition website for submission requirements and other information.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/drf-writers-award/
CATEGORIES:Non-fiction Competitions,Novel Competitions
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250228
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250301
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20241021T114931Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241121T090655Z
UID:7235-1740700800-1740787199@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Kelpies Prize for Writing
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: Midnight (UK time) on 28 February 2025\nEntry Fee: FREE\nPrizes: Nine months of mentoring with an experienced editorial or design team; Consideration for a publishing deal with Floris Books; £500 cash\nWhat to Enter: The first five chapters of a book for children\, either fiction or non-fiction OR a whole picture-book story\, plus a synopsis and and addition piece of writing for children (see site for details)\nEligibility: Open to writers over 18 years old living in Scotland\nCategory: Children’s Book Competitions\nCompetition Website:  discoverkelpies.co.uk/kelpies-prizes/\n\nRun by Floris Books (an award-winning independent publishing company based in Edinburgh and the largest publisher of children’s books in Scotland)\, the Kelpies Prize for Writing is seeking quite specific entries. They are seeking: \n\nThe first five chapters of a book for children\, either fiction or non-fiction\,\nOR a whole picture-book story. Please state whether the book is:\n• a picture-book story for 3–6 year olds\n• an early-reader chapter book for 6–8 year olds\n• a novel for 8–11 year olds\n• a novel with storylines and themes more suitable for 11–13 year olds\n• a work of non-fiction for any of the age groups listed above\nA synopsis or summary of the book (between 100 and 300 words).\nA short piece of writing (1\,000–3\,000 words) for children that begins with either\nof these two lines:\n• It seemed like such an ordinary day…\nOR\n• I opened the door and found…\nThis can be a short story\, poetry or a picture-book text; it can be comic\, dramatic\, moving\,\nlargely dialogue or whatever you like.\nSome information about you (see site for full details).\n\nNote that the organisers are also running the Kelpies Prize for Illustration at the same time. See their website for details.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/kelpies-prize-writing/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241031
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241101
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20240923T125126Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240923T125552Z
UID:7070-1730332800-1730419199@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Writing Magazine Writing for Children - Chapter Book Prize 2024
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 31 October 2024\nEntry Fee: £7.50 (standard rate) or £6 (for magazine print subscribers or digital members)\nPrizes: 1st Place: consultation with top children’s fiction agent Julia Churchill; 2nd Place: picture book critique by Amy Sparkes; 3rd Place: a year’s subscription to Writers Online Membership\nWord Limit: 5\,000-10\,000 words\, plus synopsis and five-live pitch\nJudge: Writing Magazine editorial team\nCategory: Children’s Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website: writers-online.co.uk/writing-competitions/writing-for-children-chapter-book-prize-2024/\n\nRun by Writing Magazine\, this award is open to all unpublished and unagented writers and is an opportunity for you to submit your chapter book texts. We are not looking for illustrated stories or accompanying sample illustrations – please just send the story text. \nPlease enter\, in a single document:\n– The full manuscript of your story\, between 5\,000 and 15\,000 words.\n– A one-side\, double-spaced synopsis of whole book\n– Five-line pitch of your book \nThe first prize winner will be offered a consultation with top children’s fiction agent Julia Churchill\, a year’s subscription to Writers Online Membership. The second prize winner will be offered a picture book critique by Amy Sparkes through Writing Magazine Writing Courses\, a year’s subscription to Writers Online Membership. The third prize winner will win a year’s subscription to Writers Online Membership
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/writing-magazine-chapter-book-prize/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241031
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241101
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20240923T123319Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240923T125743Z
UID:7061-1730332800-1730419199@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Writing Magazine Writing for Children - Picture Book Prize 2024
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 31 October 2024\nEntry Fee: £7.50 (standard rate) or £6 (for magazine print subscribers or digital members)\nPrizes: 1st Place: consultation with top children’s fiction agent Julia Churchill; 2nd Place: picture book critique by Amy Sparkes; 3rd Place: a year’s subscription to Writers Online Membership\nWord Limit: 800\nJudge: Writing Magazine editorial team\nCategory: Children’s Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website: writers-online.co.uk/writing-competitions/writing-for-children-picture-book-prize-2024\n\nRun by Writing Magazine\, this award is open to all unpublished and un-agented writers and is an opportunity for you to submit your picture book texts. Note that they are not looking for illustrated stories or accompanying sample illustrations – please just send the story text. \nEntries need to reflect traditional published picture book texts which do not rely on pop-ups\, tabs or touch to help deliver the story. The story should be fiction and can be rhyming or non-rhyming. The word count should be no more than 800 words. Your story can be split up into spreads (usually 12-14 spreads) or be one continuous piece of writing.   \nThe first prize winner will be offered a consultation with top children’s fiction agent Julia Churchill\, a year’s subscription to Writers Online Membership. The second prize winner will be offered a picture book critique by Amy Sparkes through Writing Magazine Writing Courses\, a year’s subscription to Writers Online Membership. The third prize winner will win a year’s subscription to Writers Online Membership
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/writing-magazine-picture-book-prize/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://newwriters.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Writing-Magazine.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240901
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240902
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20240610T083505Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240612T122052Z
UID:2220-1725148800-1725235199@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Searchlight Awards − Best Children’s Picture Book Text 2024
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23.59 (UK time) 1 September 2024\nEntry Fee: £12 per entry\nPrizes: 1st prize: £500 plus one-to-one call with the agent judge; 2nd prize: Detailed Editorial Review by Natascha Biebow; the top 10 entries will feature in Searchlight’s Agent/Publisher Pitch Book of winning stories\nWord Limit: Your text and illustration notes together should be no more than 1\,000 words; pitch maximum: 125 words\nJudge: Lorna Hemingway of Bell Lomax Moreton\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website:  searchlightawards.co.uk\n\nAuthors working on picture books (or the text for picture books at least) for children should take a look at this Searchlight Awards competition. Authors should submit the complete manuscript and a short pitch that tells us what the story is about. Note that this year the competition is for unagented and unpublished writers only. \nAs well as the top prize of £500\, the top 10 entries are included in a Publisher Pitch Book which is sent to a selection of literary agents. The winner will also have a one-to-one call with the judge\, Lorna Hemingway of Bell Lomax Moreton. While the author of the entry picked in second place will receive a Detailed Editorial Review by Natascha Biebow\, expert picture book editor and founder of Blue Elephant Storyshaping. The review includes an in-depth consideration of your picture book manuscript (up to 1000 words)\, and a detailed editorial review letter\, with specific comments about the work\, notations on your manuscript and suggestions for revision.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/searchlight-awards-picture-book/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240901
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240902
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20240525T075137Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240612T123543Z
UID:2213-1725148800-1725235199@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Searchlight Awards − Best Novel Opening for Children or Young Adults 2024
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23.59 (UK time) 1 September 2024\nEntry Fee: £16 per entry\nPrizes: 1st prize: £1\,000 plus a one-to-one call with the agent judge; 2nd prize: editorial review of 5000 words of your manuscript and a one-hour on-line meeting with celebrated author and creative writing tutor Steve Voake; The top 10 entries will feature in Searchlight’s Agent/Publisher Pitch Book of winning stories\nWord Limit: 1\,200 words\, not including the title. Pitch: maximum 175 words\nJudge: Rachel Petty of The Blair Partnership\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website:  searchlightawards.co.uk\n\nAuthors writing for children and young adults have a great opportunity with this Searchlight Awards competition. As well as the top prize of £1\,000\, the top 10 entries are included in a Publisher Pitch Book which is sent to a selection of literary agents.  \nAuthors should submit the first 1\,200 words of a longer novel for middle-grade or young adult readers and a short pitch that tells the judges what the book is about. You don’t need to have finished writing your manuscript to enter. Note that this year the competition is for unagented and unpublished writers only.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/searchlight-awards-novel-opening/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240601
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20240423T075829Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240423T081120Z
UID:5404-1717113600-1717199999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Genesis Emerging Writers Programme
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 31 May 2024\nEntry Fee: FREE\nPrizes: Mentorship\, seminars\, peer support and bursaries to ten emerging writers working in poetry\, fiction and non-fiction.\nWord Limit: 1200 words or 5 pages of poems\nEligibility: Applications are welcomed from emerging writers from all backgrounds\, of any or no faith\, aged over 18 years of age and living in the UK with no more than three years’ experience of being published\, who feel they would benefit from the support and insight of a more established writer.\nCategories: Poetry\, Fiction and Non-fiction\nWebsite: jewishliteraryfoundation.co.uk/programmes/genesis-emerging-writers-programme\n\nThe Genesis Emerging Writers Programme offers mentorship\, seminars\, peer support and bursaries to ten emerging writers working in poetry\, fiction and non-fiction. The programme is open to emerging writers over 18 years of age and living in the UK with no more than three years’ experience of being published\, who feel they would benefit from the support and insight of a more established writer. \nApplicants should be working\, or planning to work\, on a specific project\, with the aim of publication\, and should be committed to participating fully in all sessions offered by the programme. The Programme runs from 1 June 2024 to 1 April 2025. Grants will be made to successful applications on receipt of bank details. The programme of mentorship is designed to take place online and/or in person\, depending on the preference of the selected writer and their mentor. Group sessions are designed to take place online so that the programme is accessible to all. \nApplications close at 11.59pm time on 31 May 2024. \n To apply\, you must fully complete the online form which asks for:\n– Your personal/contact details;\n– A little about you and your writing project\, including a personal statement\, why you are applying for the programme\, a very brief synopsis of the project you intend to work on throughout the Programme and the genre of your project.\n– An uploaded sample of your writing\, up to 1200 words or 5 pages of poetry\, from the same project or in the same genre. Please make sure your name is not on the document as your writing sample will be judged anonymously. Please check headers/footers etc.\n– An uploaded budget for up to £1\,500 of funding to support your writing in the project you intend to work on throughout the Programme. Please note we will not approve budget requests for the purchase of laptops\, tablets\, mobile telephones or other technological equipment. Click here to view an example budget.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/genesis-emerging-writers-programme/
CATEGORIES:Non-fiction Competitions,Novel Competitions,Poetry Competitions,Short Story Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240601
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20240227T112135Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240306T090944Z
UID:4795-1717113600-1717199999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Sapere Books Writing Competition
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 31 May 2024\nEntry Fee: Free\nPrizes: First prize: Publishing contract for a five-book series\nWord Limit: First three chapters plus a synopsis of up to 2\,000 words\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website: saperebooks.com/writing-competition\n\nThis is a writing competition with a difference for authors – or aspiring authors – seeking to establish a long-term partnership with a publisher to produce a series of novels. Sapere Books are seeking a full synopsis (no more than 2000 words) and draft the first three chapters of the first book in the series based on one of the following briefs:\nBRIEF ONE: The Bletchley Park Codebreaker series\nBRIEF TWO: WWII Naval Thriller series\nBRIEF THREE: The Medieval Queens series\nBRIEF FOUR: Age of Sail series\nBRIEF FIVE: The King Arthur Origins series\nBRIEF SIX: The Gothic Houses mystery series\n(Please see the competition site for the full details of each brief.) \nOpen to debut and unpublished writers as well as established writers and ghost-writers\, this is a fine opportunity to get your foot in the publishing door and develop a career as a novelist.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/sapere-books-writing-competition/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20240306T090945Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240306T092341Z
UID:4989-1714867200-1714953599@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Leapfrog Global Fiction Prize
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 5 May 2024\nEntry Fee: $35\nPrizes: First prize: publication contract offer from Leapfrog Press and Can of Worms Press (with advance)\nWord Limit: Minimum 22\,000 words\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website: leapfrogprize.org/contest\n\nRun by Leapfrog Press and Can of Worms Press\, Leapfrog Global Fiction Prize is open to unpublished novels. They accept previously unpublished fiction manuscripts (minimum 22\,000 words) of novels\, novellas\, and short-story collections\, and in either adult or YA/Middle-Grade categories. They are seeking literary fiction and mainstream fiction\, including science fiction and the judges tend to be less interested in strict genre fiction\, but if a manuscript is good and grabs the attention\, they will be open to it. \n\nFirst Prize: publication contract offer from Leapfrog Press and Can of Worms Press\, with an advance payment against royalties\, plus the finalist awards (see below).\nFinalists: $150 and critiques of the manuscript from contest judges; permanent listing on the Leapfrog Press and Can of Worms contest pages as a contest finalist.\nSemi-Finalist: Choice of a free Leapfrog or Can of Worms book; permanent listing on the websites.\nHonorable Mention: listing on the Leapfrog Press and Can of Worms Press websites.\n\nThis is a fantastic opportunity for aspiring novelists to skip the agents’ slush pile and get their novel out into the world!
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/leapfrog-global-fiction-prize/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240301
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240302
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20240101T180647Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240108T110539Z
UID:1562-1709251200-1709337599@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:PFD Queer Fiction Prize
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 1 March 2024\nEntry Fee: FREE\nPrizes: Representation by the Peters Fraser + Dunlop agency\nWord Limit: Three chapters and a synopsis (see below)\nCategories: Novel Competitions – 1. Adult and 2. YA & Children’s fiction\nCompetition Website:  petersfraserdunlop.com/pfd-queer-fiction-prize-back-for-2024\n\nRun by Peters Fraser + Dunlop (one of the longest established and most highly respected literary agencies in the UK)\, the PFD Queer Fiction Prize is a novel prize specifically for new LGBTQIA+ writers with the aim of finding emerging talent.  \nNote that there are two categories for the prize:  \n1. Adult\n2. YA & Children.  \nBoth are free to enter\, but entrants must only submit one entry.  \nThe prize of this free-to-enter contest is well worth winning: representation by the agency and support in writing to the end of your novel – which could prove invaluable for anyone looking to make it in the world of adult or YA & children’s literature.  \nEntrants should submit a cover letter introducing yourself and your book. Then attach a three chapter sample of your work plus a synopsis (no more than 1-2 pages of A4). See the prize site for the full submission details. \nPlease note\, the eligibility criteria: the prize is open to anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+ and who is un-agented and in the process of writing a piece of fiction is eligible to enter. Submissions do not necessarily have to be about LGBTQIA+ experiences as long as the writer identifies as such\, though the organisers are especially interested in stories with LGBTQIA+ characters or themes.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/pfd-queer-fiction-prize/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240201
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240202
DTSTAMP:20260611T222133
CREATED:20231208T105419Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250929T133358Z
UID:3884-1706745600-1706831999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Farnham’s First Five Thousand Writing Competition
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 1 Feb 2024\nEntry Fee: £5 per entry\nPrizes: First prize:  £100 + a Literary Critique; Runner Up: £75; three further prizes of £50\nWord Limit: 5\,000 words max plus 300-word synopsis. \nJudges: Louise Morrish\, B.A. Paris\, Gill Thompson & Melanie Whipman\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website: farnhamliteraryfestival.co.uk/literary-writing-competition\n\nRun by Farnham Literary Festival\, Farnham’s First Five Thousand Writing Competition is seeking the first 5\,000 words of unpublished novels with no theme or style restrictions. It has an exceptional panel of judges featuring four brilliant writers\, editors and/or educators. It also has a very affordable entry fee (compared to most novel competitions!) and the winner will receive a literary critique of their work (along with the £100 cash prize!). Note that all five shortlisted works will be published on the Farnham Literary Festival website.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/first-five-thousand-competition/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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