Book Competitions

Book Competitions

Below is a list of book competitions and novel writing contests. These are for full length books, novelettes or novellas.

I am not including details of short story competitions here as I have a separate page for short fiction awards which you can see by clicking here.

PLEASE NOTE: Most of the book competitions listed on this page accept entries from writers living anywhere in the world. The country each of these book competitions is run from is listed so you know which global market you are submitting to.

Some of the book competitions listed accept work that has been previously published (either by a publishing house or self-published) and some are looking for original, unpublished works.

I will try and keep all the information on the books competitions calendar up to date, but please visit the various novel contest websites and read (and make sure you fully understand) the rules and the terms & conditions before entering.

Do You Run Book Competitions?

If you run book competitions or novel writing contests and would like to be listed on this page, please contact me and provide ALL of the following information:

  • How often you will be running the book competitions (eg, annually, quarterly, one-off)
  • The name of your book competitions
  • A link to your website
  • The country you run the book competitions from
  • Closing date
  • Date you announce winners
  • Maximum word count of novels and books
  • Entry fee
  • Top prize
  • Any other details, including how winning writers' books will be published and any theme or limitation on style/genre of stories accepted

Write About Your Experience With Book Competitions

If you are an author and have won or been shortlisted in any book competitions in the past and would like to share your experiences by writing a blog post about it or being interviewed (by moi), please get in touch with me.

This page is updated regularly throughout the year. I undertake an in-depth update, checking every link, during January each year.

Featured Book Competitions

Here I present details of the most exciting book competitions and novel contests available today. If you run a competition and want it featured at the top of this page, please get in touch. This page recieves thousands of visits each month.

Featured Competition 1: FanStory

At FanStory you will get feedback for every book chapter that you write. Yes, every book chapter!

You'll Enjoy

  • Contests. Share your first book chapter in the A First Book Chapter writing contest for a chance at the cash prize. Continue posting and you will get feedback for every chapter in your book.
  • Feedback. After you write a chapter you can share it for feedback. Get feedback on everything you post in as little as five minutes. All skill levels welcomed.
  • Keep your copyright. You keep all rights to your writing. You are free, and encouraged, to sell your work to others, post it with others or do whatever you wish. That includes your contest winning contest entries! Click here for info.

View the full writing contest listing.

Featured Competition 2: Inkitt

Inkitt run a regular book competitions and novel writing contests.

Inkitt's platform is free to use. Authors can upload their novels to the site and instantly gain access to a wide readership. The novels that prove most popular with Inkitt's readers win the competition.

Prizes vary, but include cash (up to $20,000 in the past), promotion and publication with Galatea. The Galatea team comprises more than 20 Hollywood screenwriters. They adapt the author’s stories and bring them to life. This process includes a combination of text, sound effects, visual effects and haptic feedback, which is perfect for the shorter attention spans of modern audiences. Galatea is free to use and is available in both the App Store and Google Play Store. You can find out more about Galatea by reading this article published by Forbes.

Self-publishing a book is easy. Successfully marketing it and generating sales is not. Because of the professional marketing offered by Inkitt and Galatea, this competition has been able to launch careers.

Inkitt now have millions of members, meaning any author uploading their book to the Inkitt platform is exposed to a huge audience. You can learn more about that on Inkitt's blog.

You can learn more about Inkitt in this guest post by Simone Elise. Inkitt publishes her books and, by working with them, she has become an Amazon bestselling author.

Australian author, HR Kemp, has also written two posts about her experiences of using Inkitt for my blog. She has not won the competition but talks candidly about the pros and cons of using the platform. You can read HR's first post here, which focusses on the Inkitt platform. You can read her second post here, which explains why she decided to move away from Inkitt and self-publish her book.

Below are some quotes from Inkitt authors.

Layla Knight (username _illuminating_) said: "I've been on Inkitt for 2.5 years now. I joined on a whim, thinking that nothing much would come of it. I was wrong. It very quickly became my favourite writing platform, and I haven't looked back since. From a reader's perspective, there are lots of amazing books to read, and they're easily located using the various different shelves and libraries available on the Inkitt app. There are also no ads when reading, and it's completely free! You don't have to pay coins to unlock chapters or anything like that. From a writer's perspective, the monthly incentives are great, the support from the Inkitt team is even greater, and the readers are the best!"

RavenElizabeth said: "I joined the program in May 2021, and I've enjoyed every minute. The Inkitt team listens to you when you need something and the community of writers is so kind and uplifting toward one another. As a whole, I absolutely love being a part of this program and I look forward to what's coming next for Inkitt." 

Book Competitions and Novel Writing Contests List

This table lists book competitions and novel writing contests, awards and prizes that are run all around the world.

Book / Novel CompetitionCountryClosing DateWinners AnnouncedWord CountEntry FeeTop PrizeBook / Novel Competition Notes
Adventure Writer's CompetitionUSAAprilOctober50,000 min / 200,000 max$35$1,000Adventure themed, but it's pretty broad so check their website for full details - winner considered for publication by Braveship Books
Amazon Kindle Storyteller ContestUKVariesVariesno min / max statedFREE£20,000Any style or genre - upload your book to the Kindle platform, enroll it in the KDP Select program and use a keyword specified in the rules
Arch Street Press Meet Me @ 19th Street CompetitionUSAQuarterlyQuarterlyno min / max stated$15$100Any style or genre but themes / prompts vary, so check website for full details - winners considered for the Arch Street Prize, which includes $1000, professional editing of the manuscript, a book contract and publication by Arch Street Press
Aspects of History Unpublished Historical Novel AwardUKJuneSeptember40,000 min / 120,000 max£10£500For historical novels in a variety of genres: crime, literary, timeslip, romance, mystery, action and adventure - winner offered a contract by one of the UK's top publishers - to find the award details, put 'award' into their website's search function
Australasian Association of Writing Programs PrizesAustraliaJuneSeptemberSee notes$20$500They run a variety of writing contests, please find the details below
Chapter One Prize: Any style of poetry collection, literary novel, short story collection, or a hybrid, genre-crossing work - in addition to cash, winner receives an appraisal from an established literary author and a letter of recommendation to the University of Western Australia Publishing (UWAP) + fully subsidised conference fees for the AAWP conference + invite to read at the event
Novella Prize: For unpublished novella manuscripts, 5,000 words (prose) / 50 lines (poetry) + 500 word synopsis - in addition to cash, winner receives a judges’ report from an established literary author + fully subsidised conference fees for the AAWP conference + invite to read at the event
A Woman's Write Novel ContestUSANovemberJanuary60,000 min / no max stated$40$500Any style / genre - writers are asked to submit first 50 pages of their book - every entry receives critique
Bardsy’s Anthology ContestUSATriannuallyTriannually3,000$20$1,000Any style or genre - send in your first chapter - all finalists will receive $50 and anthology publication - all qualified entrants will receive professional feedback and have the opportunity to revise their story prior to judging
Bath Children’s Novel AwardUKNovemberFebruary5,000 words + synopsis£29.99£5,000For emerging novelists writing for children or teens - judged by a top literary agent - previous winners have gone on to land a £100,000 publishing deal with Penguin Random House
Bath Novel AwardUKMaySeptember5,000 words + synopsis£29.99£5000Novels in any genre, written for adults or young adults - judged by a top literary agent - previous winners have gone on to become international bestselling authors
Bath Novella-in-Flash AwardUKJanuaryApril6,000 min / 18,000 max£16£300Any style or genre - 2 runner-up awards of £100 - all winning stories published in print and digital format - individual chapters should be less than 1,000 words
Betty Trask Prize and AwardsUKNovember?no min / max statedFREEsee notesAny style or genre - for authors aged under 35 on 31st December - prizes fund totaling £25,000 which must be used for foreign travel - run by the Society of Authors - look in the 'Prizes' section of the website
Blue Pencil Agency Pitch PrizeUKNovemberDecemberSee notes£12See notesOpen to unrepresented writers of any adult fiction genre with a minimum of 10,000 written words - send in 500-word extract and 300-word synopsis - up to 10 winners receive one-on-one meetings with a literary agent
Blue Pencil Agency First Novel AwardUKMaySeptemberno min / max stated£24£1,000Any style or genre except children's - entrants must be previously unpublished - submit first chapter up to 5,000 words and 300 word synopsis - winners receive cash prizes and introduction to literary agents
'Book Pipeline: Adaptation' and 'Book Pipeline: Unpublished' CompetitionsUSAVariesVariesno min / max statedVariesVariesAny style or genre - they run a variety of competitions, some of which are themed, so check website for full details - prizes have ranged from $5,000 to $15,000 in the past - winners receive lots of marketing assistance, including project development to prepare a film or TV series pitch
Bridport Prize 'Peggy Chapman-Andrews' First Novel AwardUKMay?min / max stated£20£1,500Any style or genre - for British authors only - winners have extracts of their novel published in anthology
Caledonia Novel AwardScotlandOctoberFebruary50,000 min / no max stated£28£1,500Any style or genre for adults or Y/A - entrants must be previously unpublished or self-published - extract of winner's novel published on website - they also award a Highly Commended prize of £500 - writer of best novel from UK/Ireland also receives a free residential writing course at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre
Chanticleer Int'l Book Awards (CIBAs)USAVariesVariesSee notesSee notes$1,000They run 24 different awards annually - most word count minimums are around 50,000 words and most entry fees are around $75, but it does vary so check website for full details - total prize pot is over $30,000 and there are lots of extra bonuses for winners
Chillzee KiMo: Tamil, English Novel CompetitionIndiaVariesVaries30,000 min / no max statedFREEINR 50,000 ($700)Any style or genre - all entries published on Chillzee KiMo - open to novels written in both English and Tamil (South Indian language)
Cinnamon Press PrizeUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style or genre - they run a variety of competitions - check website for current details
CWA Debut DaggerUKFebruaryJulysee notes£36£500Crime - submit 3,000-word extract plus 1,500-word synopsis - shortlisted entries presented to publishers and agents
Daisy Pettles Writing ContestUSABiannuallyBiannuallyno min / max stated$45$1,000Any style or genre - for women over 40 years old only - they accept fiction and non-fiction - in addition to cash prize, winner receives a one month writing retreat
Darling Axe CompetitionsCanadaVariesVariesVaries$5$700Any style or genre - they run three competitions throughout the year: Clash of the Query Letters, The First Page Challenge and The Synopsis Skirmish - opening and closing dates vary, so check website for current details - generous prizes for runners-up - winners published on the Chopping Blog and receive complimentary access to one of DA's self-paced courses
Dynamo Verlag Book ContestUSAJuneOctobersee notes$18$500Any style or genre - open to prose and poetry - 7,000 words min / 75,000 words max for prose, 80 pages min / 250 pages max for poetry - entry fee includes a copy of the winning title or a title of entrant's choosing from back catalogue - $500 prize is an advance against royalties and publication
Dzanc Prize for FictionUSAVariesVariesmin 40,000 / no max$25$5,000Any style or genre - winner awarded $5,000 advance  and publication by Dzanc Books - they also run other comps with big prizes, including one for short stories
Exeter Novel PrizeUKJanuarySpringno min / max stated£20£1,000Any style or genre
Eyelands Book AwardsGreeceOctoberDecemberVaries€40See notesAny style or genre - multiple categories with different word limits, so check website for full details - winners considered for publication by Strange Days Books and translation into Greek - winner receives a holiday in Athens
Farnham Literary Festival's "Farnham's First Five Thousand"UKFebruaryMarch5,000£5£100Any style or genre - send in the first 5,000 words of your novel - winners also receive a literary critique - shortlisted works will be published on the Farnham Literary Festival website
Fiction Factory 'First Chapter & Synopsis' CompetitionUKBi-annualBi-annual5,000£18£500Any style or genre - submit first chapter up to 5,000 words plus a synopsis - optional assessment available at a reasonable price - all short-listed entrants receive a free appraisal
First Novel PrizeUKMayJulymin 50,000 / no max stated£25£1,000Any style or genre aimed at adults
Flash 500 Novel Opening and Synopsis CompetitionSpainOctoberDecemberno min / max stated£10£500Any style / genre - submit first 3,000 words plus synopsis
Florida Authors and Publishers Association (FAPA) President's Book AwardsUSAAprilAugustno min / max statedVariesSee notesAny style / genre - multiple categories, so check website for full details - no cash prize, but winners gain exposure, prestige and kudos
Green Stories Novel Writing CompetitionUKJuneVariesmin 50,000 / max 100,000 but see notesFREEVariesAny style / genre but stories should be inspired by positive green solutions - submit 1st 3 chapters (10,000 words max) and synopsis - winning entries sent to literary agents for their consideration - top prize has been up to £1,000 / $1,200 in the past
Grindstone's International Novel PrizeUKOctoberDecember50,000 words min / no max stated£20£1,000Any style / genre - submit first 5,000 words of a finished or part-finished manuscript, accompanied by a brief synopsis - shortlisted entries will be sent to agents
Gutsy Great Novelist Chapter One Prize for NovelistsUSAMarchMarchSee notes$20$1,000Any style / genre - no max word count, prize is for full first chapter
Gutsy Great Novelist Page One PrizeUSAJuneJulySee notes$20$1,000Any style / genre - no max word count, just submit the opening page
Historical Novel Society AwardsUKVariesVariesno min / max statedFREEVariesAny style / genre - they run a variety of awards, so best to check the website (the "Awards" section) to see what is currently open - prizes have been up to $50,000 in the past (some prizes are paid in USD, some in GBP)
IBPA Book AwardsUSAVariesVariesno min / max statedSee notesSee notesAny style / genre - entry fee is $95 for IBPA members, $229 for non-members - multiple categories, so check website for full details - every entry receives feedback - winners receive lots of kudos as this is a well regarded contest, again see website for full details
Indie Novella "The Watson, Little x Indie Novella Prize"UKFebruaryMayfirst 5,000 wordsFREESee notesAny style or genre - top prize is mentorship from literary agency Watson, Little - if winner's work is suitable, Watson, Little Literary Agents will have first option to represent the winner and to offer book to a recommended publisher
IndieReader Discovery AwardsUSAFebruaryVariesno min / max stated$150See notesAny style or genre - winning books reviewed by Dystel, Goderich and Bourret Literary Management who consider signing them for representation - winners receive cash, lots of exposure, reviews and goodies, so check website for full details
Inkitt's Novel Writing ContestGermanyVariesVariesmin 10,000 / no maxFREEVariesAny style or genre except fan-fiction - there is a monthly cash prize determined by how many likes the author has received (has been up to $300 in the past)
Kelpies Prize For WritingScotlandFebruaryAugustno min / max statedFREESee notesAny style or genre, but aimed at children - prize has been up to £2,000 in the past, but does vary - winners are considered for a publishing contract with Floris Books - link to prize info is sometimes in the FOOTER of the website, so right down at the bottom (author Annemarie Allan won the competition in 2007 and has written about her experiences of winning and having her books published by Floris Books - read Annemarie's advice and a chapter of her winning book 'Hox' here )
Leapfrog Press Fiction ContestUSAVariesVariesmin 22,000 / no max statedVariesVariesAny style or genre - two categories: adult fiction and YA/MG fiction - winners receive publication contract offer from Leapfrog Press and Can of Worms Press, with an advance payment against royalties - there are usually nice prizes (sometimes cash) for runners-up
Letter Review Manuscript PrizeAustraliaBi-MonthlyBi-Monthly5,000FREE$333Any style / genre, open to novels, short story collections, nonfiction, and poetry collections - there are three winners who each receive the $333 top prize - winners have a brief extract published at Letter Review and receive a letter of recommendation from the judges for publishers - they also run a prize for reprints with the same criteria so check website for full details
Lindisfarne Prize for Debut Crime FictionUKVariesVariesno min / max statedFREE£2,500Crime or thriller - open to writers who are from, or whose work celebrates, the North-East of England
Marlowe and Christie Novel PrizeUKOctoberNovember3,000£24£1100Any style or genre - for novel openings - ten shortlisted entries will receive written feedback from the judge
McKitterick PrizeUKOctober?no min / max statedFREEVariesAny style or genre - for authors aged over 40 - prize fund varies, but top prize has been £4,000 in the past - to find the competition, look in the "Prizes" section of their website
Memoirist / Dogberry Books Writing PrizeUKMayJune70,000 min / 90,000 max£25£500Any style or subject - for full length novels, memoirs and autobiographical novels - winner offered publication
Miami Book Fair de Groot Prize for the NovellaUSAVariesVaries17,000 to 40,000FREE$6,000Any style or genre - in addition to cash prize, winner is published by Melville House and offered an expenses-paid trip to the Miami Book Fair, plus a chance to read at the fair - deosn't run every year
Miami University Novella PrizeUSAVariesVaries18,000 to 40,000$25$750Any style or genre - winner receives $750, a contract, publication, marketing and 10 copies of their book
Mslexia Women's Novel CompetitionUKVariesVariesno min / max statedVariesVariesStyle and genre vary, so check website for current details - women only - usually closes around September / October time - they run novel and novella comps, not always every year - top prize has been up to £5,000 in the past - best bet is to check website for current details as they seem to change quite regularly
Nan Shepherd Prize for Nature WritingUKVariesVariesno min / max statedFREE£10,000Nature writing - for authors living in the UK and Ireland only - prize is an advance for a book deal with Canongate that includes editorial mentoring - runs biennially (every other year - 2019, 2021, 2023 etc.)
New England Readers' Choice AwardsUSAMarchMayno min / max stated$30See notesRomance books and novellas published in the previous calendar year - top prize is free access to writing classes
Omnidawn Fabulist Fiction Chapbook ContestUSAOctoberMarchVaries$18$1,000Any style or genre - you can submit 1 story or a collection of shorter stories - winner is professionally published and promoted in a chapbook
Page Turner AwardsUKVariesVariesno min / max statedVariesSee notesThey run a variety of awards, so best to check the website for current categories - in the past, winners have received a publishing contract, a literary agent, a publishing book package or an audiobook production
Peirene Stevns Translation PrizeUKVariesVariesSee notesVariesVariesTranslation of a short section of a specific book, so see website for current details - top prize has been up to £4,000 in the past - the winner's translation of the full book will be published
Pen/Hemingway Award For Debut FictionUSAVariesVariesno max stated$85$10,000Any style/genre - entries only accepted from publishers and literary agents - for a debut novel - for US residents only
Retreat West First Chapter CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesSee notesAny style / genre - top prize varies, so best to check website for current details
Rubery Book AwardUKMarchJulyno min / max stated£39£2,000Any style or genre, including fiction and non-fiction - any book entered MUST be published, but this includes self-published novels - eBooks and printed books accepted for entry
RWA Kiss of Death 'Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense'USAMarchMayVaries$30See notesMystery, suspense and thrillers - multiple categories, so check website for full details - winner in each category receives an engraved bookmark, award certificate, digital medallion and a voucher for one COFFIN online class
Scottish Book Trust New Writers AwardsScotlandVariesVariesVariesFREE£2,000Any style or genre - there are 3 categories; 1: Fiction and non-fiction, 2: Poetry, 3: Children's and young adults - in addition to prize money, winner will receive mentoring, advice and a week long writing retreat - you must be based in Scotland to enter this competition
Searchlight Awards - Best Chapter Book CompetitionUKFebruaryMay1,000£12£350Chapter books suitable for 5 to 8 year olds - can be a stand-alone story or part of a series - submit the first chapter and a short pitch - winner also receives a one-to-one call with an agent - stories feature in a pitch book sent to numerous literary agents / publishers who have requested it
Searchlight Awards - Best Children’s Picture Book (text only)UKSeptemberFebruary1,000£12£500Picture books (text only - no images) suitable to read aloud to a young child - top 10 stories feature in a pitch book sent to numerous literary agents/publishers who have requested it
Searchlight Awards - Best Novel Opening for Children or Young AdultsUKSeptemberFebruary1,200£16£1,000For the opening of a novel for children aged eight to eighteen - you don’t need to have finished writing your manuscript to enter - top 10 stories feature in a pitch book sent to numerous literary agents/publishers who have requested it
Self-Publishing Review AwardsUSAAprilAprilno min / max stated$30See notesAny style or genre - winner receives loads of help with marketing from SPR
SI Leeds Literary PrizeUKApril (Biennial)Octoberno min / max stated£10£3,000Any style or genre - entrants must be Asian or Black women and reside in the UK - in addition to the cash prize, the winner receives a free place on an Arvon creative writing course - Peepal Tree Press offer runners-up one-to-one consultancy sessions - runs every 2 years
SMK ContestsUSANovemberJanuaryVaries$5$100Any style / genre - they have multiple categories for flash fiction, poetry, short story, non-fiction, novel and more, so check website for full details
St. Martin’s Minotaur/ Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel CompetitionUSAVariesVaries60,000 min / no max stated?$10,000Any style or genre, but themed so check website for full details - cash prize is an advance - there isn't always a winner, it depends on the quality of submitted novels
Staunch Novel PrizeUKVariesVaries50,000 min / no maxVariesVariesA prize for thrillers in which no woman is beaten, stalked, sexually exploited, raped or murdered
Stroud Book Festival CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style or genre - only open to writers living in Gloucestershire, UK - competition doesn't always run every year and details vary, so check website for current details
TCK Publishing Readers Choice AwardsUSAVariesVariesno min / max statedFREESee notesFor previously published books only - multiple categories, so check website for details - winner receives Kindle Fire HD Tablet - first entry is free, additional entries cost $25 - no dedicated award page, so type 'award' into the search function at the top of the homepage and all the current award details will come up
The Booker PrizeUKVariesVariesno min / max statedFREE£50,000Any style or genre - must be a book published in the UK, self published books are NOT accepted
The Claymore Award, Presented by Killer NashvilleUSAAprilVaries50 pages$40VariesAny style or subgenre of mystery or thriller - winners have been considered for publishing contracts in the past
The League of Poets Prize for LiteratureNigeriaJanuaryMayno min / max stated$10See notesAny style / genre - prizes include trophies, stickers and interviews that will be published in the T.L.O.P. magazine - open to fiction and non-fiction
The Masters Review Novel Excerpt ContestUSADecemberMarchno min / max stated$20$3,000Any style / genre - send in a 6,000 words excerpt - they also run other competitions, like short story, flash fiction etc.
The Silver Falchion Award, Presented by Killer NashvilleUSAVariesVariesno min / max stated$79$250Multiple catergories, so check website for current details, but book must have been published in previous year
The Somerset Maugham AwardsUKNovember?no min / max statedFREEsee notesAny style or genre - for authors aged under 30 - prizes fund totaling £1,000 which must be used foreign travel - to find the comp page, look in the "Prizes" section of the website
The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction CompetitionUKVariesVaries30,000 to 80,000£20£10,000For childrens books, written for 7 to 18 years old - the 10K prize is a publishing advance and is part of a world wide publishing contract with Chicken House - if the competition isn't mentioned on the homepage, check the 'Submissions' section of the website
Tim Saunders Publications' "The Paul Cave Prize for Literature"UKSeptemberNovember10,000£25£100Any style or genre - for novellas - winners published on website and receive a free copy of The Paul Cave Prize for Literature book - also open to flash fiction, poetry and short stories
Uncharted Magazine's Novel Excerpt PrizeUSABi-AnnualBi-Annualno min / max stated$20$3,000For SF/F, thriller / horror and mystery / crime - send in a 5,000 word excerpt
Versal Journal's Amsterdam Open Book PrizeNetherlandsDecemberMarch80 pages$20See notesAny style or genre - this is a biennial competition, so it runs every other year - they accept poetry, fiction and nonfiction prose, and especially experimental, hybrid and collaborative pieces - winners receive publication + copies of their book
Virginia Prize for FictionUKOctoberMarch45,000 min / no max stated£25See notesAny style or genre but for women only - winner's novel is published by Aurora Metro Books - contest is run biennially
Wells Festival of Literature International "A Book For Children" CompetitionUKJuneOctoberno min / max stated£6£750Any style or genre but must be suitable for readers over 7 years old, which includes young adults - first two chapters or first twenty pages, whichever is the shortest, plus the synopsis
Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing PrizeUKVariesVariesVariesVariesSee notesAny style or genre but themed around adventure - 3 categories: Best Published Novel, Best Unpublished Manuscript and Author of Tomorrow for young writers - each category has different closing dates, word count limits and prizes, all of which vary so check the website for current details - top prize has been up to £15,000 in the past
Winning Writers North Street Book Prize for Self-Published BooksUSAJuneFebruaryno min / 200,000 words max$70$8,000Any style or genre but exclusively for self-published books - there are 7 categories - any year of publication accepted - generous cash prizes for winner and honourable mention in each category - winners receive lots of marketing services in addition to cash prize
Writer's Digest Self-Published Book AwardsUSAVariesVariesno min / max stated$125VariesAny style or genre, including fiction and non-fiction, but there are lots of different categories to choose from to enter your work into (best to check the WD website for those) - top prize has been up to $8,000 in the past
Writers' League of Texas Manuscript ContestUSAVariesVariesno min / max statedVariesSee notesAny style or genre - multiple categories for fiction, non-fiction and children's - winners of each category meet with a top literary agent for their chosen genre - current competition details usually in the 'Programs' section of the website
Yeovil Prize Novel CompetitionUKVariesVariessee notes£14.50VariesAny style or genre - submit opening chapters up to a maximum of 15,000 words - top prize has been up to £1,250 in the past

One-Off Book Competitions and Novel Writing Contests List

Here you will find details of one-off book competitions and novel writing contests.

One-Off Book / Novel CompetitionCountryClosing DateWinners AnnouncedWord CountEntry FeeTop PrizeOne-Off Book / Novel Competition Notes
No one-off book competitions to list at presentNANANANANANANone to list at present, more book competitions and novel contests coming soon...

Other Book Competitions and Novel Writing Contests Lists

Below are links to other websites that list book competitions and novel writing contests. A couple of the lists are old, but still have links to competitions that operate.

If you know of any other resources that list book competitions and novel contests, please get in touch. I'd be happy to add details to this page.

A History of Closed Book Competitions

This historical list gives details of book competitions and novel writing contests, awards and prizes that have closed and are no longer running.

Book / Novel CompetitionCountryClosing DateWinners AnnouncedWord CountEntry FeeTop PrizeBook / Novel Competition Notes
Amazon Breakthrough Novel AwardUSAJanuaryMay50,000 to 150,000FREE$50,000Any style / genre but in these 5 categories: 1, general fiction; 2, romance; 3, mystery/thriller; 4, science fiction/fantasy/horror; 5, young adult fiction - winner receives a publishing contract with a $50,000 advance - four other winners receive a publishing contract with a $15,000 advance - contest limited to 10,000 entries CLOSED 2015, replaced by Kindle Scout which was only open to US residents and is now closed too
Association of Christian Writers Novel Writing CompetitionUK1st November 2020January 2021No min / max£8£100Any style or genre - submit opening 2,000 words - 3 shortlisted entrants will be asked to submit full novel - CLOSED, was a one-off
Authors.me Operation: ThrillerUSA31st March 20169th May 2016no min / max statedFREE$750Thriller - winner also receives a developmental edit by Reedsy (worth $1,500) and a book cover designed (worth $600) - generous 2nd and 3rd prizes too - CLOSED, was a one off
Authors.me Writing ContestsUSAVariesVariesVariesFREE$200Genres vary, so check website for current details (in the past they've run humor, romance and YA contests) - winners receive cash prize plus audits and consultations from professionals, check the website for full details - CLOSED, competition page disappeared from site so removed listing Jan 2018
AuthorU Draft to Dream Book CompetitionUSAApril?no max$99$1,000 + see notesThere are 5 categories: Children’s, Young Adult, Juvenile, Adult Fiction & Adult Non-Fiction - each category winner receives $1,000 + their book published with $8,000 worth of author services - NOT RUN since 2017, so removed listing 2019
Bardsy’s First Chapter ContestUSA13th March 202312th April 20233,000$20$599Any style or genre - send in your first chapter - all finalists will receive $60 and anthology publication - CLOSED, was a one-off
Bardsy’s First Chapter ContestUSA7th July 2023July 20233,000$20$1,000Any style or genre - send in your first chapter - all finalists will receive $50 and anthology publication - CLOSED, was a one-off
Bardsy’s 2023 Fall Anthology ContestUSA30th September 2023October 2023 3,000$20$1,000Any style or genre - send in your first chapter - all finalists will receive $50 and anthology publication - all qualified entrants will receive professional feedback and have the opportunity to revise their story prior to judging - CLOSED, was a one-off but now runs 3 times a year and is listed in main list above
Bluepencilagency Novel Award 2017UK30th June 201730th October 2017See notes£15£1,000Any style or genre except children's - submit first chapter up to 5,000 words CLOSED 2017, was a one-off, but has now reopened as an annual award, so see live listing
Bob Rich's Free Book Edit ContestAustralia15th October 201823rd December 2018200 word synopsis + 1st 1,000 wordsFREESee notesAny style or genre - every entrant receives feedback on their work - winner receives free edit of full manuscript from award winning editor - CLOSED, was a one off
Chapter One Promotions Novel CompetitionEnglandFebruaryJulyno min / max stated£20£500Any style or genre - you need to submit the first 3 chapters, OR a prologue and the first 2 chapters, accompanied by a synopsis and biography - you can enter partially completed books into this contest as winners get to work with an editor to complete thier novel - all entries must be previously unpublished - CLOSED IN 2014
Chapter One Promotions Self-Published Book AwardEnglandFebruaryDecemberno min / max stated£25£500Any style or genre, including fiction and non-fiction - winning books will be sold on the Chapter One Promotion website - CLOSED IN 2014
Commonwealth Book PrizeEnglandDecember?60,000 minimumFREE£10,000Any style or genre - authors must live in a commonwealth country, there are 5 regions: 1, Africa; 2, Asia; 3, Canada and Europe; 4, Caribbean; 5, Pacific - overall winner receives 10K prize, regional winners receive £2,500 - entries must be a first published book - self-published novels are accepted - CLOSED IN 2013
Commonword Diversity Writing For Children PrizeUKJuneOctoberno min / max statedVaries£1,000For unpublished authors, writing Middle Grade or Young Adult Fiction, whose writing embraces ethnic diversity - winner will receive professional mentoring - doesn't run every year, but seems to run every 2 years or so - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing during 2021 update
Comps & Calls 'The Novel Contest'UKJulyAugustno min / max stated£16£300Any style or genre - submit first chapter (up to 5,000 words) and synopsis - extract of winners' stories published on website - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED during 2018, so removed listing 2019
Creative Future Spotlight Books CompetitionUK24th February 20191st April 201910,000FREESee notesAny style or genre except erotica or children's - open to writers from under-represented backgrounds (those who face barriers due to mental health, disability, identity or social circumstance) so see website for full guidelines - six writers will begiven 1:1 editorial support to shape their manuscripts and will be published in individual small books with international distribution - CLOSED, was a one-off
Crime & Publishment Crime Writing CompetitionUKDecember 2013?no min / max stated£4.95See notesTheme is crime - prize, worth £500, is to win a place at Crime and Publishment crime writing master-classes at The Mill Forge, Gretna Green, Scotland in March 2014 and have your novel synopsis assessed by a literary consultant - you are asked to submit 2,000 words of your novel - CLOSED
Daily Mail Penguin Random House 'First Novel Competition'UKVariesVariesno min / max statedFREE£20,000Style and genre varys, so check website for current details - winner receives a 20K advance and a publishing deal with Penguin Random House - they don't have a dedicated contest page and the competition doesn't run every year; the link takes you to their site search; select 'relevance' and then search for 'first novel competition' to find details - HASN'T RUN SINCE 2019, so removed listing during 2022 update
Devon and Cornwall (DCI) Novel PrizeUKDecemberMarchno min / max stated£15£2,000Any style or genre - submit opening extract and synopsis - winner receives online publishing contract (royalties: author 50%, DCI Novel Prize 25% and publisher 25% - 2 shortlisted candidates also offered a publishing contract
WARNING NOTES
Note 1: I've had a few users raise concerns about this competition as 'Cornwall' and 'international' were spelt incorrectly on the website, there is no contact information (not even an email address) on the website and their domain registration details are not public.
I contacted Glen Reed, who administrates the competition, about this. Glen said:
We're a multicultural team, I'm Italian and, despite having lived in the UK for 20 years and having married an English man, I still make spelling mistakes at times. Our website and logo designer is from India and our proofreader is Jamaican, both of them hired from Fiverr and Upwork, a very bad decision as I can see now. We have an extremely low budget as we decided to spend most of our monies (basically team members' donations) on the prize. Our identities aren't displayed on our web (so far) as we're just a group of friends with literary interests in common, but basically none on us is a published author, an editor or a recognised literary figure. We fought extremely hard to raise the monies for the prize, domain, design and web hosting, and we're in conversations with a local publisher to get the winning novel published. We're also working with indie authors publishing their works using Draft2Digital and all of this we do free of charge and because we love writing and reading.
Since we had this exchange, all the typos on the website have been corrected, but there still isn't any contact information on the site and the domain details are still hidden. This has led to further messages from users raising concerns about the competition.
I have written to Glen again, asking him to supply contact information, including an address and phone number. I'm waiting for a reply and will update this note when / if I receive the requested information.
In the meantime, here is the email address Glen has been using to contact me: info@dcinovelprize.com
Note 2: Glen replied after a few days, saying:
First it was the "concerns about 'Cornwall' spelt incorrectly throughout your website"... actually misspelled once, and your very destructive warning note. Now it's the contact details and "domain registration details"?
We answered in detail to your first email then and now we'd like to kindly ask you to delete our entry from your blog, especially as every time I open my email and see that I've got an email from you I get very anxious and feel that all our hard work lives in jeopardy. Again, please delete our entry from your blog, it'd be really appreciated.
I replied saying:
Hi Glen. 'Cornwall' was spelt incorrectly throughout your website, not just once, both in page copy and in your SEO page titles. So that statement was correct.
These concerns come from my website users. They trust my website and therefore I take their concerns seriously and investigate them. Sorry for any anxiety caused, but I'm just doing my job. It's very unusual for a competition to have no contact details. This is a genuine cause for concern - users cannot contact the administrators if they encounter problems or have questions about the competition. I see you have now added your email address to your website. However, to stop these types of concern, I'd recommend you also add an address and phone number. I hope that helps.
I have retired your listing as requested.
Note 3: I was contacted a few months later, by one of the Devon and Cornwall Novel Prize longlisted writers. They said:
Hi Chris. The folks at DCI have routinely missed their every deadline. They've shifted the goalposts for the long and short list publication (as of today, the site lists that the short list and winner should've been announced in March). [CF: Note, this message was received in May]
The number of prizes and the winner's purse has also been revised since entries for the competition closed. There has not been any communication with the long listed authors to advise or explain any of these changes.  It does appear that the folks at DCI are disorganized amateurs (at best) or scam artists (at worst), but I'd love to be proven wrong. The organizers at DCI have been unresponsive to my emails, but perhaps you can follow up?
I have contacted Glen and asked for an explanation. I will update this information if I hear back from him.
Note 4: It's been months since I contacted Glen and I have not heard back from him. The DCI Novel Prize still haven't announced last year's winners, yet this year's competition is open and accepting submissions. Personally, I would avoid submitting to this contest until there is some proof that they have announced winners and awarded the promised prizes.
Dorchester Literary Festival Local Writing PrizeUKVariesVariesno min / max statedFREE£1,000Any style or genre - book length submissions of fiction, non-fiction, or short stories - writers must live in or be closely connected to the West Country in the UK - CLOSED 2024
Dzanc Prize for FictionUSASeptemberNovember18,000 min / 40,000 max$25$1,500Any style or genre - winner awarded $1,500 advance  and publication by Dzanc Books - CLOSED, was a one-off
Edit Crowd Fiction Novel CompetitionUKJulyAugust50,000 words min / 100,000 words max£5£50Any style / genre - winners published on the website - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED during 2018, so removed listing 2019
Everything with Words Urban YA Novel CompetitionUK30th November 201822nd February 2019min 40,000 / max 70,000FREE£1,000Any style or genre except fantasy - themed, so check website for full details - send first 5,000 words and 500 word outline - winner considered for publication by Everything with Words - CLOSED, was a one-off
First Edition Children’s Book Writing ContestUSASeptemberOctober600$50See notesChildren's, 0 to 5 years of age - winner's book will be edited, illustrated, published, promoted and distributed to 2,000 kids minimum via Southwest Human Development projects and sold through bookstores both online and offline - winner will receive royalties - CLOSED, not run since 2016
Fresh Books Online Novel / Novella Writing CompetitionEnglandNovemberDecembermin 3,000 / no maxFREE$400Any style or genre - five prizes each made up of cash and perks - first prize made up of £250 cash plus £150 worth of perks (see website for full details) - each entrant gets £5 reading credits and there is a chance for all authors who enter to make some money - limited to first 100 entries - CLOSED
Great Stories With Heart - The Write Time Novella & Novel CompetitionUKJune 2014November 2014See notesFREESee notesAccepted genres are family saga, historical, medical, mystery and suspense, and romance (contemporary or historical) - entrants must be over 50 years old and resident in the UK - novellas of 20,000 to 50,000 words, noves of 50,000 to 100,000 words - winner offered publishing deal and book will be published on Amazon & Kobo -CLOSED, was a one off
Hastings Literary Festival Crime Novel CompetitionUKMaySeptember90,000£10£150Crime - winner's novel published by Crooked Cat - winner also receives copies of their book and a trophy - submit first 3 chapters and synopsis - NO LONGER RUNNING, in 2019 they started running short story and flash comps instead
Harry Bowling PrizeEnglandSeptember?first 5,000 words£10£1,000Any style or genre - winner's book critiqued by publishing industry experts - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2016
Historic Novel Society New Novel AwardUKVariesVariesmin 60,000 / max 150,000$35£2,000Any style or genre, but must be historic fiction - entry fee is dollars, prize in pounds (not a typo!) - seems to run every 2 years - in Jan 2019, wording on awards page references announcing the next competition in 2017, but they have announced winners for 2018 - best bet is to check the 'awards' section of the website for updates - NOT RUN SINCE 2017, so removed listing 2020
Inkitt Horror Contest 2020Germany31st March 2020July20,000 min / no maxFREE$1,000Horror - winner also receives one-to-one coaching with a professional writing coach, social media feature, and an Inkitt badge - CLOSED, was a one-off
Inkitt Thrill Seeker ContestGermany31st May 2020August7,500 min / no maxFREE$500Horror, thriller, paranormal and mystery - winner also receives exclusive winner’s book badges and a social media promotional package - CLOSED, was a one-off
Kwill Books Baum Indie Book PrizeSpain / USAAugustOctoberno min / max stated$25See notesAny style or genre - book deal with Kwill Books valued at $3,999 which includes editing, formatting, a book trailer, cover design and reviews - there's an early bird entry fee of $20, so submit early for reduced price - CLOSED, no longer mentioned on website so removed listing in 2018
L.A. Neo Noir Novel, Film, & Script Fest CompetitionUSAMarchAprilsee notes$35$100Any style or genre - no word count limits, but page limits are: 4 to 30 pages for short stories, 31 to 90 for short script submissions and 91 to 200 pages for novel submissions - prize includes having story made into a short movie that will be shown at the L.A. Neo Noir Festival - WEBSITE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO NAVIGATE and can find no mention of the competition, so removed listing 2019
Library Journal Indie Ebook Awards CompetitionUSAJulyJanuaryno min / max statedFREE$1,000Genre categories are: Romance, Mystery, Science Fiction, Fantasy and Young Adult - $1,250 awarded to the winner of each category - CLOSED, no longer mentioned on website so removed listing 2018
Literary Classics International Book AwardsUSAVariesVariesno min / max statedVariesSee notesAny style or genre - winners receive lots of media attention - entry fees vary, but are around the $80/$90 mark - multiple categories, so best bet is to look through the website - NOT RUN SINCE 2019, so removed listing during 2022 update
Local Legend Spiritual Writing CompetitionEnglandBi-AnnuallyBi-Annually75,000*FREESee notesMind, body, spirit genre - top prize is publication in paperback and worldwide distribution - 75,000 word limit is preferred, but not strict, so will consider longer works - runners up offered low cost publication - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2016
Luke Bitmead BursaryUKAugust?min 50,000 / no max statedFREE£2,500Any style or genre - accepts entries between May and August only - UKs biggest prize for unpublished authors - winner receives a publishing contract with Legend Press - DOESN'T SEEM TO BE RUNNING ANYMORE, so removed listing 2019
Metamorphose Novella ContestUSAMarch?20,000 min / 40,000 maxFREE$50Sci-fi and fantasy - winner published in Metamorphose anthology - if over 500 copies sold, a royalty will be paid to contributors - COMPETITION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so listing removed in 2017
Neovel Stronger Together ContestFrance17th June 202320th July 2023no min / max statedFREE€500Any style / genre but the theme is "Love makes us stronger" so write the story about characters who face incredible struggles to be together - CLOSED, was a one-off
Neovel The Mysterious Case ContestFrance2nd April 20238th May 2022no min / max statedFREE€500Any style / genre but the main character or characters in the novel have to carry out an investigation in relation to a mysterious event - CLOSED, was a one-off
Neovel Time Travelers ContestFrance25th May 202229th June 2022no min / max statedFREE€2,000Any style / genre but themed around time travel - CLOSED, was a one-off
Next Novelist CompetitionUSAAugustNovember50,000 to 150,000See notes$5,000Themed, so check website for current theme - submissions received before June 21st are free, after June there is $20 fee - winner receives $5,000 advance and publishing contract with Atlatl Publishing - CLOSED
New Wrinkle Publishing Writers ContestUSANovemberJanuary100,000FREESee notesAny style or genre except erotica - winner’s novel will be illustrated, edited and published and the winner will receive royalties - an original book soundtrack will also be composed for the winner - CLOSED, not run since 2016, so removed listing 2018
Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society - William Wisdom Creative Writing CompetitionUSAMaySeptemberSee notesSee notes$7,500Any style or genre - entry fee varies depending on novel length, but has been $40 to $200 in the past - they also run a non-fiction book prize with a $2,000 prize AND a Novella prize for manuscripts up to 25,000 words in length with a $1,500 prize - winners might be published - NO MENTION OF COMPETITION ON WEBSITE, so removed listing during 2023 update
Premios Literarios FreeditorialUSAVariesVariesmin 10,000 / no max statedFREE$10,000Any style / genre but for stories written in Spanish only - all entrants published on website and stories with the greatest number of downloads win - CONTEST NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing during 2021 update
QueryLetter.com Writing ContestUSASeptemberOctober100FREE$500Back cover book blurbs about completely made-up, nonexistent books of any style or genre - NOT RUN SINCE 2020, so removed listing during 2021 update
QuoScript NaNoWriMo ChallengeUKNovemberMarchno min / max stated£30See notesOpen to crime fiction and young adult fiction authors only - submit 10,000 words and synopsis - one author from crime category and one author from YA category receive a publishing contract - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2021
Shelf Unbound Writing CompetitionUSAOctoberNovemberno min / max stated$75$500Any style or genre - for independantly published books (any publication date) - winner receives editorial coverage in Shelf Unbound magazine - 5 finalists and more than 100 notable books will also feature in the magazine - CLOSED 2018
Stone Pier Press Environmental PrizeUSASeptemberOctoberno min / max stated$20$500Any style or genre, but themed so check website for full details - winner considered for publishing contract with Stone Pier Press - no dedicated page for the competition, so put 'prize' into their site search to find the latest details - NOT RUN FOR 2 YEARS, so removed listing during 2021 update
Stroud Book Festival Contemporary Fiction CompetitionUK21st October 201631st October 2016See notesFREE£100Any style or genre - submit a 250 word synopsis and the first 1,500 words of your book - winners are invited to read their work at the Stroud Book Festival - CLOSED, was a one-off
SwordyStory Fantastic Life CompetitionSingapore2nd June 202010th July 202060,000 min / no maxFREE$5,000Any style or genre - stories published on SwordyStory online platform, which will officially launch in the latter part of 2020 - CLOSED, was a one-off
The Forestry Commission 'Writers in the Forest' CompetitionUK14th January 2019February 2019750FREESee notesNature writing - winner receives a writing residency with the Forestry Commission, £2,500 and development opportunities - submit a video or written pitch outlining their vision - CLOSED, was a one-off
The Impress Prize for New WritersUKVariesVariesno min / max statedVariesSee notesAny style or genre - open to fiction and non-fiction - winner is offered a publishing contract with Impress Books - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2022, so removed listing during 2023 update
The Literary Consultancy Pen Factor CompetitionEngland4th June 201823rd June 2018no min / max stated£60 + VATSee notesAny style or genre - £65 + VAT entry includes ticket to TLC Writers' Day event - submit first 2,000 words of novel - 5 finalists pitch their book to panel of judges - top prize is £1,000 worth of professional development, literary organisation memberships & more, so check link for full details - CLOSED, was a one-off
The Montegrappa Scholastic Prize for New Children’s WritingEnglandJuneOctoberno min / max statedFREESee notesChildrens aged 7 to 12 years - winner receives a publishing deal with Scholastic, reprisentation by LBA and a weekend for two in Venice - open to residents of the UK and Ireland only - HASN'T BEEN RUN SINCE 2015, so removed listing 2017
The Ohio Writers' Association Great Novel ContestUSAVariesVaries50,000 to 125,000VariesVariesAny style or genre - winner is offered a publishing contract and cash (has been up to $3,000 in the past but it does vary) - entry fee has been between $25 and $50 in the past - CONTEST NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing during 2023 update
Webook Writing CompetitionUKVarieVariesVariesVariesVariesThemes, lengths, styles, genres and prizes vary - check website for current requirements - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED during 2018, removed listing 2019
Writeful Place 'Novel Beginnings' CompetitionFranceJanuaryFebruary3,000*€10€250Any style or genre except children's, romance or sci-fi - first 3,000 words plus synopsis - winner published on website with an author interview - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED during 2018, removed listing 2019
Writers' Village Foundation AwardEnglandQuarterlyQuarterly60,000 min / no max stated£14£500Any style or genre - Debut novelists can win £500 plus the chance of representation by international literary agency A.M. Heath - the top eight submissions will also gain personal feedback from the award judge - CLOSED 2016
Wundor Short Fiction ContestUKVariesVaries45,000£10£500Any style or genre - extract of winning stories published on the Wundor website - winners work considered for publishing contract - contest page changes focus as they also run short story and poetry comps - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing 2020

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I hope you found this "Book Competitions" page helpful. You can find lots of other publication opportunities and writing tips in the Advice section of this website.

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This website was established in 2011. In 2024, it was redesigned. Between 2011 and 2024, thousands of people left comments. I’d like to thank every person for their engagement – it’s greatly appreciated.

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