The Novel Beginnings Prize (up to $95,000)
Novel Beginnings: A $50,000 Opportunity for Emerging Fiction Writers
ProWritingAid has launched Novel Beginnings, a global writing competition designed to support unpublished, unrepresented fiction writers with one of the most generous prizes currently available in the literary world.
If you’ve been working on a novel and need both financial backing and professional guidance, this could be a turning point in your writing journey.
What Is Novel Beginnings?
Novel Beginnings invites writers to submit the first 5,000 words of a novel-in-progress. Rather than looking for polished manuscripts, the judges are searching for strong voice, narrative promise, and compelling openings.
This competition exists to invest in writers before they break through — providing time, money, and mentorship when it matters most.
Who Can Apply?
You’re eligible if you:
- Are unpublished and unrepresented
- Have not traditionally published a novel or received an advance
- Write fiction for adult or YA readers
- Are writing in English
- May have self-published or published short work
Writers from anywhere in the world can enter.
How to Enter
To apply, you’ll submit:
- The first 5,000 words of your novel-in-progress
- A file formatted in 12-point Arial or Times New Roman, 1.5 spacing
- An anonymized document with no identifying information
Submissions open February 2, 2026 and close March 31, 2026.
Entry costs $20 for free ProWritingAid users. Writers with paid ProWritingAid plans enter for free.
Prizes
ProWritingAid is awarding up to $95,000 total:
Grand Prize
- $50,000
- 45-minute editorial consultation with First Ink
- Six months of mentorship
- Conditional offer of representation from Aevitas
Shortlisted Prizes
- $5,000 each
- Written editorial feedback from a commissioning editor
Judges for the Novel Beginnings Prize
The judging panel includes bestselling authors, editors, and agents, such as:
- Alison Espach
- Tessa Bailey
- Troy Onyango
- Onyi Nwabineli
- Christine Pride
- Kesia Lupo
- Morwenna Loughman
- Alessandra Ferreri
Every entry is read by human judges through multiple rounds.
Support Beyond the Contest
Entrants also gain access to a supportive writing community, expert talks, writing sprints, and guided courses to help strengthen their opening chapters.
If you want practical ways to refine your work before submitting, this guide on how online writing tools can polish your work is a helpful place to start. You might also benefit from this article on holding reader attention from the very first page.
Why Novel Beginnings Matters
Novel Beginnings stands out because it:
- Supports writers before publication
- Offers real money, not symbolic prizes
- Provides professional mentorship
- Respects authors’ rights — you retain full ownership of your work
Submission window: February 2 – March 31, 2026
Prize: Up to $50,000 + mentorship and editorial support
Who: Unpublished, unrepresented fiction writers worldwide
