ORGANIZER
1.1 The Novel Beginnings Writing Contest (the "Contest") is organized by Orpheus Technology Limited, trading under the name of ProWritingAid (the "Organizer").
1.2 By submitting an entry to the Contest, entrants agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
ELIGIBILITY
2.1 The Contest is open worldwide to unrepresented, unpublished authors, subject to applicable laws and regulations.
2.2 Entrants must not have had a novel, memoir, short story collection, poetry collection, or non-fiction book published by an established publisher (defined as a publisher that releases at least three ISBN-registered titles by different authors annually and distributes nationally).
2.3 Self-published authors are eligible to participate.
2.4 If an entrant receives a publishing or representation offer between submission and the announcement of winners, they must notify the Organizer immediately to withdraw from the Contest.
2.5 The following people are not eligible to participate: employees of the Organizer; employees of its affiliates or subsidiaries; employees of any advertising or promotional agencies involved in this promotion; and the immediate family members of all such employees.
2.6 The Organizer reserves the right to verify eligibility, disqualify ineligible entrants, and reject entries that breach these Terms.
2.7 By submitting an entry, the entrant confirms they are eligible and that they can lawfully claim any prizes awarded.
2.8 Authors who have at any point prior to the date of this Contest signed a publishing contract for a full-length book that included an advance payment are ineligible to enter this Contest.
ENTRY PERIOD
3.1 The Contest opens for submissions at 00:01 GMT on February 1, 2026 and closes at 23:59 GMT on March 31, 2026 ("Entry Period").
3.2 Entries received outside this period will not be accepted and will be automatically disqualified.
ENTRY LIMITATIONS AND DISQUALIFICATION
4.1 Entry Limitations:
4.1.1 Each participant may submit only one (1) entry. Multiple submissions from the same individual will lead to disqualification of all entries.
4.1.2 Entries submitted from different accounts but originating from the same person are considered multiple entries and will be disqualified.
4.1.3 Collaborative works created by multiple authors are not eligible; each entry must be the sole original work of one writer.
4.2 Grounds for Disqualification:Entries will be disqualified if they:
4.2.1 Fail to comply with these Terms and Conditions;
4.2.2 Are multiple submissions from the same individual;
4.2.3 Exceed 5,000 words or are under 4,500 words;
4.2.4 Contain the author's name or identifiable information within the submission;
4.2.5 Do not include required information (word count, genre) on the first page;
4.2.6 Do not follow formatting rules (12-point Arial or Times New Roman, 1.5 line spacing);
4.2.7 Contain inappropriate, offensive, defamatory, or unsuitable content;
4.2.8 Have been previously published in any format in any jurisdiction or are under consideration elsewhere;
4.2.9 Infringe third-party rights;
4.2.10 Are submitted by ineligible entrants;
4.2.11 Are received after the deadline;
4.2.12 Contain evidence of plagiarism, ghostwriting, or literary fraud;
4.2.13 Include false or misleading information;
4.2.14 are not entirely human‑created. The use of AI, machine learning, or automated writing tools to generate or significantly edit content is strictly prohibited.
4.3 Disqualification Process:
The Organizer's decision regarding disqualification is final and binding. Disqualified entrants will not be notified unless the Organizer opts to do so.
HOW TO ENTER
5.1 To participate, entrants must:
5.1.1 Create or have an existing ProWritingAid account;
5.1.2 Submit their entry via the designated contest portal on the ProWritingAid website;
5.1.3 Pay the $20USD entry fee if using a free account (paid accounts may submit free of charge).
5.2 Entry fees are non-refundable.
5.3 The Organizer accepts no responsibility for entries not successfully submitted due to technical problems, such as internet interruptions or hardware failures. It is the participant's responsibility to ensure their device and connection meet the requirements. The Organizer reserves the right to disqualify any entry that attempts to tamper with the submission process or breaches these Terms.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
6.1 Entries must be:
6.1.1 The first 4,500 to 5,000 words of an unpublished fiction work (minimum 4,500; maximum 5,000).
6.1.2 Original work created solely by the entrant without any assistance from artificial intelligence or machine generated text and not co-authored or collaborated on or with any other person.
6.1.3 Written in English.
6.1.4 In a genre suitable for YA or adult fiction.
6.1.5 Submitted as a Word document, Pages document, or PDF file.
6.1.6 Properly formatted in 12-point Arial or Times New Roman font, with 1.5 line spacing.
6.1.7 Saved with the title of the work only (the entrant’s name must not be included in the document).
6.1.8 Anonymized, with no author information in the document.
6.1.9 Include on the first page of the submission: total word count and genre.
6.2 Submissions that do not meet these requirements may be disqualified at the sole discretion of the Organizer.
6.3 By submitting an entry, the entrant warrants that their work:
6.3.1 Is entirely their original creation, with any use of artificial intelligence in the creation process limited to assistive functions such as rephrasing, grammar, or style suggestions and not the generation of substantive content;
6.3.2 Does not infringe third-party rights;
6.3.3 Has not been previously published or is under consideration elsewhere.
6.4 The Organizer reserves the right to disqualify any work deemed inappropriate, offensive, or otherwise unsuitable.
JUDGING PROCESS
7.1 Entries will go through multiple evaluation rounds: initial screening, longlist, shortlist, and final winner.
7.2 The judging process includes:
7.2.1 Ensuring compliance with entry rules;
7.2.2 Selecting longlisted entries;
7.2.3 Narrowing to shortlisted entries;
7.2.4 Selecting the final winner.
7.3 Judging criteria encompass originality, literary merit, writing quality, and marketability.
7.4 The Organizer’s decisions are final and binding in all judging matters; no correspondence regarding judgments will be entered into.
7.5 The Organizer reserves the right to modify or replace judges without prior notice.
7.6 The Contest is a skill-based competition and is not a game of chance. All entries will be judged solely by human judges and winners will be selected solely on the basis of merit, judged according to the criteria outlined in these conditions. The Organiser will ensure that no element of luck or chance will influence the outcome.
PRIZES
8.1 The Organizer awards the following prizes, subject to these conditions:
8.1.1 Grand Prize:
a) $50,000 USD;
b) 45 minute editorial consultation from Commissioning Editor at First Ink
c) Six months of mentorship and a conditional offer of representation from Aevitas agency
8.1.2 Runner-up Prizes:
a) Up to Nine (9) prizes of $5,000 USD each. The exact number of runner-up prizes on offer will be determined by the Organiser and set out in a shortlist which will be made available in early May 2026.
b) A short email with headline feedback from a Commissioning Editor at First Ink, plus guidance on next steps.
8.2 Prize Conditions:
8.2.1 All prizes are non-transferrable and no substitutions, refunds, or exchanges will be permitted, except at the Organizer’s sole discretion.
8.2.2 The Organizer reserves the right to substitute any prize with an item of equivalent or greater value at any time without prior notice.
8.2.3 Winners are responsible for any taxes or legal obligations related to their prizes. The Organizer makes no warranties regarding the utility or value of the prizes, including the editorial call or mentorship.
8.2.4 The Organizer reserves the right to disqualify any winner if they breach these Terms, engage in misconduct, or act fraudulently.
8.2.5 The Organizer shall not be liable for any damages, injuries, or losses arising from the acceptance or use of the prizes.
8.3 Liability Limitations:
8.3.1 The Organizer shall not be liable for delays, errors, damages, injuries, or losses arising from the acceptance, use, or misuse of any prizes.
8.3.2 The Organizer is not responsible for circumstances beyond its control, including acts of God, natural disasters, war, terrorism, or internet outages.
8.3.3 The prizes are provided "as is," and the Organizer disclaims any warranties or guarantees regarding their fitness for purpose or utility.
8.3.4 Winners accept all risks associated with accepting and using their prizes, waive any claims against the Organizer, and acknowledge the Organizer’s liability is limited to the prize value.
8.4 Winner Responsibilities:
8.4.1 Winners are solely responsible for paying any applicable taxes, fees, or legal obligations associated with their prizes.
8.4.2 The Organizer shall not be responsible for any failure of a winner to accept or utilize their prize, including but not limited to failure to respond within the permitted time or failure to meet eligibility requirements.
9. WINNER NOTIFICATION AND REQUIREMENTS
9.1 Notification: Shortlisted winners only, will be notified via email to the address provided during entry. The Organizer will attempt to contact winners within 14 days of the final judging. Monetary prizes will be transferred electronically to the winner using a suitable transfer tool such as Wise within 30 days of announcement of the winner.
9.2 Failure to Respond: If a potential winner cannot be contacted within 14 days of initial notification, or if they do not respond to the Organizer’s attempts, or if they are deemed ineligible or breach these Terms, the Organizer may disqualify the individual and select an alternative winner from the remaining eligible entries.
9.3 Required Documentation: Winners may be asked to sign affidavits, declarations, releases, and/or tax forms within a specified period. Failure to submit required documentation within the deadline may result in disqualification, forfeiture of the prize, and selection of an alternate winner.
9.4 Liability and Limitation of Liability: The Organizer will make reasonable efforts to contact winners but shall not be liable for any failure to do so, or for unresponsiveness, delays, or circumstances beyond its control that prevent a winner from accepting or claiming their prize.
10. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
10.1 Entrants retain all rights to their original work.
10.2 By participating, shortlisted entrants grant the Organizer a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, and display their entry for purposes related to the Contest and promotional activities.
10.3 The Organizer shall not publish the full text of entries without express permission, except as necessary for judging.
10.4 Proper credit will be given when work is used for promotional purposes.
10.5 Entrants represent that they have all necessary rights in their work and that their submission does not infringe third-party rights.
10.6 Entrants agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Organizer against any claims, damages, or liabilities arising from claims that their work infringes third-party rights.
11. DATA PROTECTION
11.1 Personal data collected will be processed in accordance with the Organizer’s Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.
11.2 By entering the Contest, participants consent to the collection, storage, and processing of their personal data for purposes related to the Contest, including communication, verification, announcement, and prize fulfillment.
11.3 Winners’ names may be published on the Organizer’s website and social media unless the winner requests otherwise at the time of entry.
11.4 The Organizer will retain personal data only as long as necessary and in accordance with applicable laws.
11.5 Participants can exercise their rights to access, rectify, or erase their data by contacting the Organizer or reviewing the Privacy Policy.
11.6 The Organizer confirms that no artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automated tools are used to train or process participants' personal data.
12. PUBLICITY
12.1 By accepting a prize, winners grant the Organizer the right to use their name, likeness, and a snippet of their work for promotional purposes without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law.
12.2 Participation in publicity is optional; declining will not affect eligibility or prize rights.
13. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
13.1 The Organizer shall not be responsible for:
Technical failures of any kind;
Unauthorized human intervention;
Errors or delays in processing entries;
Damages or injuries resulting from acceptance or use of prizes;
Circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters, acts of war, terrorism, or internet outages.
13.2 The Organizer makes no warranties about the prizes and is not liable for any damages, losses, or injuries related to their acceptance or use.
14. GENERAL CONDITIONS
14.1 The Organizer reserves the right to cancel, modify, or suspend the Contest if a virus, system error, or other factors beyond its control threaten the integrity of the Contest.
14.2 The Organizer reserves the right to disqualify or exclude any entrant or participant acting improperly, tampering, or violating these Terms.
14.3 Any attempt to manipulate the process unlawfully may result in legal action.
14.4 The Organizer’s failure to enforce any provision does not constitute a waiver of that provision.
14.5 These Terms and Conditions may be amended at any time; such amendments will be posted on the Organizer’s website.
14.6 This Contest and these Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
15. FORCE MAJEURE
15.1 The Organizer shall not be liable for failure to perform its obligations due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including events such as natural disasters, war, terrorism, government restrictions, pandemics, or other force majeure events.
16. DISPUTE RESOLUTION
16.1 If a dispute arises relating to the Terms or the Contest, the parties agree to first attempt to resolve the dispute by informal negotiations.
16.2 If not resolved within 30 days, the dispute may be submitted to mediation through a recognized mediation service such as CEDR.
16.3 If mediation is unsuccessful or not agreed upon, disputes shall be resolved solely by the courts of England and Wales.
16.4 Nothing in this clause affects your statutory rights as a consumer or prevents you from seeking interim relief from courts.
17. SEVERABILITY
17.1 If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable by a court, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force.
17.2 If part of a provision can be made valid by deleting or modifying it, it shall be interpreted accordingly to reflect the intentions.
18. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
18.1 These Terms and Conditions constitute the entire agreement between the Organizer and the entrant concerning the subject matter and supersede all prior agreements, representations, or understandings, whether written or oral.
18.2 Entrants acknowledge that they have not relied on any statements or promises outside these Terms, and that these Terms govern their participation.
19. CONTACT INFORMATION
19.1 For questions regarding these Terms or the Contest, contact the Organizer at hello@prowritingaid.com
19.2 For complaints or enquiries, use hello@prowritingaid.com.
LAST UPDATED: 30 January 2026