Overview of the Competition

The Novelry, an online platform dedicated to fiction writing education, is launching an exciting competition titled The Next Big Story. This initiative offers a remarkable opportunity for budding writers, as the winner will receive a prize of £75,000. The objective is to discover fresh literary talent and aid the winner in transforming their initial ideas into a polished piece of fiction.

Important Details

• Submission Window: Writers can submit the first three pages of their novels from May 1 until July 31.
• Shortlist Announcement: A shortlist of entries will be revealed on September 28.
• Public Voting: After the shortlist is announced, the public will cast their votes to select their favorite submission.
• Winner Announcement: The competition winner will be declared on October 12.

Judging Panel

The judging panel comprises acclaimed authors such as Tayari Jones, Emma Roberts, and Julia Quinn, bringing a wealth of experience and insight to the evaluation process. This diverse selection of judges ensures that all entries will be assessed with industry expertise.

Encouragement for Writers

Louise Dean, the founder of The Novelry and a Booker Prize-listed author, emphasizes the competition’s intent to break down barriers in creative writing. “When it comes to writing fiction, the barriers to engagement seem so high. So many self-exclude and find it hard to get the nerve to even try their hand,” she stated. “We want to change that with an extraordinary prize that rewards the mischief of that moment and the impulse of creativity, when a first sentence goes down on a page and anything can happen next.”

How to Participate

Interested writers are encouraged to visit The Novelry’s website for complete guidelines and additional details regarding the competition.