First Novel Prize 2021
A literary contest open to unpublished and independently published novelists
Entries in the 2021 Edition Are Now Closed
We are Thrilled to Announce the Shortlist
First Prize: £1,000
Second Prize: £250
Third Prize: £100
Have you written a novel that is self-published or is yet to be published? Then this is the competition for you.
In its seventh consecutive year, the First Novel Prize aims to discover a powerful new voice in fiction writing, across the English language world.
With a First, Second and Third Prize available to unpublished or independently published novelists. If your novel is over 50,000 words and of an adult genre, then we would love to read it.
Entries are currently closed and due to open again in February 2022.
The straight-forward entry process is as follows:
1) Upload your manuscript onto our website, making sure that your details are on the title page of your manuscript, followed by the synopsis and the novel within the same document.
2) Pay the £25 competition entry fee via PayPal by clicking ‘Make Payment and Submit’. After making the payment, please wait to be automatically redirected to our website. Only if your browser does not automatically redirect you back to our website, you can click the link ‘Return to Merchant’ and you will be redirected to a page on our website confirming your successful submission.
3) You will receive an automatic confirmation email from us and a receipt for your payment. We will now be in possession of your submission. Once checked, it will be forwarded on to the judges. If we need anything else, we will be in touch. Read full Terms and Conditions.
If you wish to enter by post, please send your manuscript or self-published volume to First Novel Prize, C/O Daniel Goldsmith Associates Ltd, Gridiron Building, One Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG including a synopsis and a cheque written to Daniel Goldsmith Associates Ltd for the £25 entry fee. Please do not send disks or USB sticks.
We look forward to reading your work!