Have you started, or completed, a novel with strong, credible characters and a page turning plot? Have you honed the first chapters? Can you put together a compelling synopsis?

This novel opening competition judged by Headline Publishing. They welcome published, self-published and unpublished novelists. The only stipulation is that the entry must be unpublished.

The organzer is looking for a novel opening up to 3,000 words, plus a synopsis of the story (max 750 words) to be submitted together in a single file.

This is an annual competition: entries close 31st October 2024.

• Entries must be in English.
• Entries must be the work of the entrant and must not have been published or accepted for publication elsewhere.
• The competition is international and welcomes non-UK entrants.
• Copyright remains with the author.
• Winners will be notified by email within eight weeks of each closing date.
• The results of the competition will be published on the competition website.

We are keen to encourage quality, so suggest writers to check their stories before submitting using Prowritingaid. They have free and paid versions and are the best writing software we know to help improve grammar, readability and check for repetition, ‘sticky’ sentences and suggest alternatives.