A Writer On Writing: Novel Writing Competitions 2011
Sally Jenkins brings details of two novel-writing competitions.
We all know how hard it is to get a novel published from the slush pile. However, if you’ve won a competition with your manuscript (or even just been placed) it will make your covering letter stand out from the masses. So if you’ve got an unpublished manuscript in the drawer why not polish it up and try one of these competitions (or you could write something from scratch…)
Nemesis Debut Novel Competition
Nemesis is a small publisher looking for a debut novel to publish in 2012.
Manuscripts for the competition should ideally be between 70,000 and 130,000 words with no restriction on genre. There is no entry fee and email submission is preferred. All entries must be accompanied by a synopsis of no more than 1,000 words and an author bio of no more than 500 words.
The closing date is 14 August 2011 and the winner will be announced by 30 November 2011. Full details are here. http://nemesispublishing.com/Debut-Novel-Competition-2011.aspx
Mslexia Novel Writing Competition
Mslexia is looking for novels by commercially unpublished women novelists. Any genre is acceptable apart from books aimed at under 13s. The finished novel must be at least 50,000 words.
First prize in this competition is £5,000 plus Mslexia’s stamp of approval, which will ensure agents and editors are keen to read your full manuscript.
Submit the first 5,000 words of your novel in the first instance but the manuscript must already be complete. Short-listed entrants will then be asked to submit their full manuscript.
Closing date is September 30th and the winner will be announced in the MAR/APR/MAY issue of Mslexia. Full details are here. http://www.mslexia.co.uk/whatson/msbusiness/ncomp_active.php
