Ascent Novel Prize - an open laptop as someone enters a competition

Prize Terms

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Who can enter?

Ascent Novel Prize welcomes entries from writers across the globe, aged 18 years and over.
The competition is for writers who have no agent and have not accepted an offer of publication for a novel.
If your novel has been self-published or published without a book deal, you are still eligible to enter.
If you accept a publishing deal before the winner of the prize is announced, you will not be able to proceed in the competition and will be ineligible to win. If the top 100, long or short list has been announced, your listing will be honoured. In the event of receiving representation or a publishing contract please contact us on: info@ascentnovelprize.com
If your novel wins another competition and receives a cash prize before the winner is announced, you will be ineligible to win. Please contact us immediately on: info@ascentnovelprize.com
There is no limit to the number of times you submit, but each entry requires its own entry fee of £29.
Please note that once you have entered the prize, refunds are unavailable.

What do I enter?

The first three thousand words of a novel for adults, written in English (we accept novels for young adults due to their crossover appeal). In addition to this, and on the same document, add a one line pitch and a one-page synopsis.
The extract must be from your original work, and must not have been created using AI. Any evidence to the contrary will result in disqualification.
Your extract should be double spaced, in black font, using Times New Roman, size 12.
You should include a one line pitch and a one-page synopsis at the end of your extract, single spaced, in black, size 12 font using Times New Roman.
Save your document using your novel title only. We accept word documents.
Please include the title of your novel in the header and page numbers.
All entries must be anonymous. DO NOT include your name anywhere on your extract. To do so will result in disqualification.
If longlisted, we require the first 30,000 words of your novel.
If shortlisted, we require your full novel which should be complete at a minimum of 50,000 words

What do I win?

The winner will receive £1,000 GBP
The judge's decision is final.
Every entry is guaranteed a personalised paragraph of feedback.
Due to expected volume of submissions, we cannot enter into any correspondence regarding feedback. The entry fee covers the administration of the prize and the feedback given is free.
By submitting you agree to Ascent Novel Prize publishing your title and opening thousand words or first chapter on their social media channels and/or website for publicity purposes. We will also request an interview and photograph.
After the winner has been announced, the judging panel will nominate the highest scoring writers for our Under-Represented Writers' Awards. Sponsors may gift prizes for these awards, which are non-transferable and there is no cash alternative.
The judging panel's decision on the Under-Represented Writer's Awards is final and we cannot enter into any correspondence regarding this matter.

When is the winner announced?

The winner is announced on the 1st March.
Ascent Novel Prize is open from 1st July to the 1st November.
The closing date of the prize is the 1st November at 23:59.
The top-100 are announced in December.
The long-list is announced in January.
The shortlist is announced on the 1st February.
Our Under-Represented Writers' Awards will be announced by 1st March, following the announcement of the overall winner.
All feedback will be sent out by the 1st May (within 6 months of the prize closing).
Dates are dependent upon our judging panel and therefore Ascent Novel Prize reserves the right to adjust the timings of the competition if required.

How is my work protected?

Entrants retain full copywrite of their work, but all entrants listed give Ascent Novel Prize permission to publish the opening chapter or up to 1,000 words of their work for publicity purposes on our social media channels and website.
By entering, you give Ascent Novel Prize permission to publish the title of your book and name in our listing announcements, including quotes/ opening lines that our judging panel enjoy.
Ascent Novel Prize is GDPR compliant.

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