New Voices First Novel Competition

Stop Press: After seven years of supporting new writers New Voices is taking a well earned break. Thank you for all your support. Keep writing! 

Have you got a winning idea?

Have you recently embarked on writing a novel? Like some support in the early stages? There are many potential pitfalls for the first-time writer. We are offering a start-up package to the most promising synopsis and first page.

(This competition is aimed at writers who have completed at least 50 pages of their manuscript. Use the deadline to get those pages in shape!)

Winning prize:

A Start-Up mentoring package worth more than £750.00*

*A mini-masterclass covering everything you need to know about writing a novel. A Start-Up Mentoring package (covering up to 50 pages/16,000 words) includes a manuscript appraisal, guidelines, a development strategy, a consultation and an agreed deadline for a year later.

Read more about our Start-Up Mentoring Package. 

New Voices Feedback 

New Voices First Novel Competition is proud to support a wide range of writers, across genres. All our previous winners share a passion to communicate, a wealth of ideas and a strong central idea. Our role is to help lay the groundwork to enable them to push through.

“I gained a more expansive vision of what my novel could evolve into. Especially useful were your notes on clearly signposting genre and character development. Your sympathetic expert perspective enabled me to see the wood through the trees.”

Rachel Newsome

 “It was extremely useful meeting with you! The direction of my novel has become so much clearer and I feel more confident about pressing ahead to completion of the first draft. Many thanks.”   

Gibril Kerefah

Entry Requirements

A one-page synopsis

The first page of your novel
Entry fee: £10.00*

*We can accept applications by post or online

Specifications

Synopsis: 12 pt. Aim for space and a half
First page: 12 pt. Double-spaced
Include your name and contact information on both pages.  

Include your title in the email subject.

(Use your surname as the filename. I.e. SURNAMEpg. SURNAMEsyn. If sending both pages as one doc: SURNAME2.)

Postal Entries

Send your first page and your synopsis, along with a cheque for £10.00 made payable to Adventures in Fiction to:

Adventures In Fiction
14, Grosvenor Avenue
London, N5 2NR
(If you would like an acknowledgment, please include a stamped self-addressed postcard.)

Online Entries

Step 1. Sign up now. Pay the entry fee of £10.00 here.

Step 2. Email Us
With your title as the subject.

Include title and confirmation (date of payment)
+ Attach your first page and synopsis (preferably as word documents.)

We will acknowledge receipt. (If you do not receive an acknowledgment please do get in touch. Check your spam folder first!)

 New Voices First Novel Competition

An excellent opportunity to kick start your novel and gain some valuable input and support.

Best of luck!

Terms and Conditions

The competition is open to aspiring novelists in all genres, regardless of location. (Adventures in Fiction has a broad national and international client base.)

•  This includes self published writers.
• Novelists commercially published (in English) are not eligible.
• Current and previous apprentices are not eligible.
• Your competition entry will not be returned.
• We respect your copyright. (For your peace of mind, we recommend that you add your copyright as follows: © Your Name 2012)
• Submissions should be original works written in English.
• We offer subsidised feedback to all applicants.
• We cannot enter into discussion about individual entries.
• Our decision is final.
• Applications without an entry fee will be inadmissible.
• The entry fee applies to a single entry.
• Multiple entries are eligible on a fee per entry basis.
• The application window closes at midnight. 14th September.
• We cannot be held responsible for entries lost in the post.
• The winner should be prepared to submit their manuscript in hard copy (12pt, double-spaced, single side of the paper only) to Adventures in Fiction by the beginning of November.
• Please bear in mind that the consultation is offered within a limited time frame. (Usually within two months from the date of submission of manuscript.) 

Announcements

• The longlist will be announced on Facebook and Twitter by 12th October 2023.
• The shortlist will be posted on Facebook and Twitter by 9th November 2023. 
• We may contact finalists for further information.
• We will notify the winner via email.
• The winner and finalists will be announced on the website by 7th December 2023.