Tags
Creative Writing Competitions, Curtis Brown, Discoveries 2024, Kent & Sussex Poetry Society, The 2023 Exeter Novel Prize, The Plaza Crime First Chapters Prize 2024, The Prolitzer Prize for Prose
January is galloping down upon us and, with it, those New Year Resolutions to write more and write better. So here are some competitions to think about even before the decorations come down…
The 2023 Exeter Novel Prize is seeking the first 10,000 words of an unpublished novel manuscript by an author who is not currently represented by a literary agent. There is a first prize of £1,000 and five runners up will each receive £100. The final judge will be literary agent Hellie Ogden. Send the opening of the novel plus a synopsis no longer than 500 words. The total word count must be no longer than 10,000 words. Novel manuscripts may be in any genre, including children’s and YA. All entries must be original and unpublished. Entry fee: £20. Closing date 1 January 2024. Details: https://www.creativewritingmatters.co.uk/2023-exeter-novel-prize.html
Hachette Children’s Novel Awards 2024 are for debut authors resident in the north of England. Two winners will be awarded £3,000 and a programme of mentoring activities. Submit the opening of the novel (between 3,000 and 6,000 words, plus a synopsis. Entry is FREE. Deadline 4 January. Details: https://newwritingnorth.com/
Discoveries 2024. The writer development programme from The Women’s Prize Trust is inviting entries from aspiring women novelists in the UK and Ireland. Prizes will be given for novel manuscripts by unpublished writers in any adult genre. Submit the first 10,000 words plus a synopsis between 500 and 1,000 words. Novel manuscripts do not need to have been completed. The winner will be offered representation by Curtis Brown and £5,000. All six shortlisted writers will be offered a mentoring session with a Curtis Brown agent and a free place on a six week Curtis Brown online course. One writer will be named The Discoveries Scholar and win a free scholarship to attend a three-month Curtis Brown Creative Writing Your Novel course. All 16 longlisted authors will receive a bespoke two-week online Discoveries Writing Development Course. Entry is FREE. Closing date 8 January. Details: http://www.discoveries.curtisbrown.co.uk/
The Prolitzer Prize for Prose is for fiction or creative non-fiction that challenges or entertains the reader. The maximum word count is 2,500. The first prize is £200 and two runners up will each get £50. Winners will be published in Prole 35. Entry fee is £5, and £3 for any subsequent entries. Closing date 21 January. Details: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/competitions.html
New Writers Flash Fiction Competition 2024 has a £1,000 first prize for original unpublished flash fiction up to 300 words, with second and third prizes of £300 and £200. Entry is £8 for one, £15 for two and £22 for three. £1 from each entry will be donated to the First Story creative writing charity for young people. Closing date: 31 January. Details: https://newwriters.org.uk/flash-fiction-competition/
The Plaza Crime First Chapters Prize 2024. Win a £1,500 first prize for the opening of a crime novel up to 5,000 words, plus a synopsis, and there are second and third prizes of £300 and £100. The winner will also receive feedback from the judge, crime writer David Mark. Winners will be published in Plaza Anthology 2. Entry fee is £20 for the first entry and £10 for any subsequent entries. Closing date: 31 January. Details: https://the plazaprizes.com/competition/the-plaza-crime-first-chapters-prize/
The Kent & Sussex Poetry Society Open Poetry Competition 2024 are looking for entries of original, unpublished poems in any style up to 40 lines. First prize is £1,000 and there are second and third prizes of £300 and £100. Four runners up will each receive £50. Entry fee is £5 per poem, or £4 each for three or more poems. Deadline: 31 January. Details: https://kentandsussexpoetry.com/
Good Luck! Make 2024 your winning year, either by winning or being placed in a competition or by making a significant start on a new book.
(As always, please check details before entry, in case the organisers have made any last-minute alterations)