The HNS UK 2024 First Chapters Competition is for the first three chapters of a historical novel that has not been previously published in any form. It should be accompanied by a synopsis.

We are looking to recognise and promote excellence in storytelling and the craft of historical fiction.

Overall Winner – £1,000. Category Prizes – £500 and an HNS UK 2024 conference ticket [onsite or online].

The categories are:

• historical romance
• historical crime
• historical adventure
• biographical historical fiction
• children’s and young adult’s historical fiction
• historical fantasy, timeslip, and alternate history
• historical fiction ancient to 16th century
• historical fiction 17th to 19th century
• historical fiction 20th century.

The overall judges are author Kate Quinn, author and publisher Jane Johnson, and agent and publisher Lisa Highton.

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.

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