Novel Beginnings
Kick-start your writing career with our $50,000 grand prize.
What is Novel Beginnings?
Submit the first 5,000 words of your work in progress for a chance to win our $50,000 grand prize or one of our $5,000 shortlisted awards.
Who it’s for
Unrepresented, unpublished fiction writers in any genre.
If you're unagented and have never been traditionally published, we'd love to read your work.
How to enter
Submit 5,000 words from the opening of a novel in progress.
We’re not looking for a finished book. We’re looking for a compelling voice, a strong sense of story, and an opening that makes us want to keep reading.
Get free advice
Write and edit your entry with free expert support.
Register for Novel Beginnings to get access to free expert talks and community writing sprints in the lead-up to the March 31st submission deadline.
Why Novel Beginnings
We’re investing in new voices. Here’s why.
Writers deserve real support
Stories change the world. Too often, writers are told to pursue their dreams “on the side” or to treat their work as a hobby rather than a calling. More than that, hundreds of arts organizations have seen their grants slashed over the last year, leaving aspiring writers without access to needed resources.
We don’t believe that should be the case. We believe writers deserve to have the funding they need to pursue their dreams. That’s why Novel Beginnings exists.
This contest is our way of investing in writers before success, not after it. By offering funding, visibility, and belief at the beginning, we want to help writers create the time and space their stories need to grow.
Meet our judges
Writers and industry professionals who believe in supporting new stories from the beginning.
Alison Espach
New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding People
Tessa Bailey
#1 New York Times bestselling author
Troy Onyango
International Booker Prize judge
Onyi Nwabineli
Author of Someday, Maybe
Christine Pride
“Big Five” book editor + bestselling novelist
Eden McKenzie-Goddard
Author of Smallie
Kesia Lupo
Pan Macmillan Commissioning Editor
Morwenna Loughman
Literary Agent, Aevitas Creative Management UK
Alessandra Ferreri
Head of Content, Wattpad
Submission details
What to know before you submit.
Am I eligible?
Novel Beginnings is open to writers who are early in their publishing journey but deeply committed to their craft.
You’re eligible if:
You do not currently have a literary agent
You have not previously published a novel with an established publisher
You may have:
Self-published work
Published short fiction in magazines or anthologies
Unsure whether you qualify? Read our FAQs below.
How do I enter?
What you’ll submit
The first 5,000 words of a novel in progress
Adults and YA fiction only: all genres welcome
Full submission guidelines in our FAQs below
What we’re looking for
Strength of voice
Narrative promise
Craft and clarity
The potential of the story’s beginning
What it costs
Registering for expert advice, community sprints, and writing challenges is free for all writers
Submitting your 5,000-word entry to the contest costs $20 if you do not have a ProWritingAid paid plan
Writers with a Premium or Premium Pro ProWritingAid plan get free entry to the contest
This is about promise, not polish. We’re looking for powerful beginnings—not finished books.
What are the prizes?
We believe writers deserve meaningful support, not symbolic rewards. That’s why we’re awarding up to $95,000 to emerging writers.
The Grand Prize
$50,000 awarded to one winner
45-minute editorial consultation with First Ink
Six months of mentorship and a conditional offer of representation from Aevitas
Shortlisted Prizes
$5,000 awarded to each of our shortlisted writers
Written editorial feedback from a Commissioning Editor at First Ink
Timeline
Entries open: 00:01 GMT on February 2nd, 2026
Entries close: 23:59 GMT on March 31st, 2026
Still polishing your words?
Join us in the ProWritingAid Community.
When you join Novel Beginnings, you’ll be welcomed into a supportive writing community designed to help you keep going—whether you’re refining your first 5,000 words or just getting started.
From there, you can follow our step-by-step course to polish your opening, take part in guided writing sprints, hear from experts on craft and confidence, and join community challenges with dashboard badges—all designed to help your novel’s first pages shine.
You don’t need to arrive with perfect words—you just need to show up. We’ll help you do the rest.
Stories from past challenge participants
Honestly just participating with other writers has been a really eye-opening experience. I’ve been very alone in my whole writing process and so it’s nice to be able to see other people out there and you know there are people there to help.
The guided writing sprints have been my best friend! That and the encouraging support from the community!
I had days that were slow, but I always wanted to have something interesting to share in the community posts, which helped me keep pushing foward.
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We keep your writing safe
As writers ourselves, we know how important the privacy and security of your writing is. That’s why we never use your text to train our algorithms and use bank-level security to keep your work safe.
Novel Beginnings FAQs
Who can enter?
The contest is open worldwide to unpublished, unrepresented authors. You’re eligible as long as you haven’t had a full-length book published by an established publisher or received an advance for a publishing contract. Self-published authors are welcome.
What should I submit?
You must submit the first 4,500–5,000 words of an unpublished fiction work written in English and suitable for YA or adult readers. This contest is not for children’s fiction.
Can I submit more than one entry?
No. One entry per person only. Multiple submissions—whether from the same or different accounts—will result in disqualification.
Can I enter if I get a publishing or agent offer after submitting?
If you receive an offer of publication or representation before winners are announced, you must notify us and withdraw from the contest.
How should my manuscript be formatted?
Between 4,500 and 5,000 words
Written in 12-point Arial or Times New Roman
1.5 line spaced
Anonymized, with no author name or identifying details in the document. The first page must include the total word count and genre.
What file formats are accepted?
Entries must be uploaded as a Word document (.doc or .docx), Pages document, or PDF.
How do I enter and is there a fee?
Enter by clicking any “Click to enter” button on this page. You’ll then be directed to create a ProWritingAid account if you don’t have one already, and submit via the contest portal.
Free accounts: $20 entry fee
Writers with paid ProWritingAid subscriptions: Free to enter
All entry fees are nonrefundable.
What are the prizes?
Grand Prize: $50,000 USD, a 45-minute editorial consultation with First Ink, plus six months of mentorship and a conditional offer of representation from Aevitas.
Runner-up prizes: Up to nine awards of $5,000 USD each, plus written editorial feedback.
How are entries judged?
Every entry is read by human judges. Submissions go through multiple rounds of judging, beginning with volunteer readers. Finalists are then reviewed by our expert panel, which includes New York Times bestselling authors, an International Booker Prize judge, and senior editors from Big Five publishers. All judging decisions are final.
Will ProWritingAid own my work?
No. You retain full rights to your work. Shortlisted authors grant ProWritingAid a limited license to use excerpts for contest-related and promotional purposes, with full credit.
When do submissions open and close?
Submissions open at 00:01 GMT on February 1st, 2026 and close at 23:59 GMT on March 31st, 2026. Entries submitted outside this window won’t be accepted.
How and when will winners be notified?
Shortlisted entrants will be contacted by email after judging concludes. If a shortlisted entrant doesn’t respond within 14 days, an alternative may be selected.