In celebration of National Novel Writing Month (November 1st-30th), The Editorial Department, LLC—the country’s oldest independent book editing company—is hosting a nationwide contest to find and help perfect the next great American novel. The grand prize winner will win a complete manuscript evaluation and line-editing package from The Editorial Department and have the opportunity to work directly with Renni Browne, who has edited hundreds of successfully published novels, co-authored the bestselling Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, and is one of publishing’s most experienced and highly respected fiction editors.
From TED's 2006 Arizona Statewide Writer's Contest Winner, Gail Graham:
"I entered The Editorial Department's 2006 Novel
Contest because I desperately wanted feedback. To tell the truth, I wasn't that
really interested in winning, because with 50 years' experience as a
writer (I sold my first story when I was 16) I thought I knew how to edit my
own work.
Well, I won. And I can honestly say that working with Renni
Browne on my novel Lemonade was one of the most exciting, rewarding and
fulfilling creative experiences I've ever had. I learned so much. So many new
techniques, so many new ways of seeing, and reading. They didn't have MFA
programs in my day, but this was like having my own, private instructor. Thanks
to Renni I now have a fantastic novel, thanks to The Editorial
Department I now have a fantastic agent, and I soon hope to have a
fantastic publisher.
Thank you, Renni! Thank you, The Editorial Department!"
~Gail Graham
This contest is limited to completed fiction manuscripts of any genre between 50,000 and 110,000 words. We only ask for the first 50 pages of a completed manuscript for consideration, but a full manuscript must be available to be eligible for a prize. Published and unpublished authors alike are encouraged to enter, but submitted manuscripts must be unpublished and not under contract at time of submission. All submissions will be anonymous.
Early entry is encouraged as contest participation is on a first-come, first-served basis with a 500-submission limit.
Guidelines: All writers of unpublished book-length fiction are eligible. To enter, contestants upload the first 50 pages of their manuscripts and a short synopsis via our website. All submissions must be no longer than the first 50 manuscript pages, double-spaced, in 12 point font, with standard margins. The synopsis may not exceed three double-spaced pages. You will be contacted for the full manuscript if you are being considered for a prize.
Fee: $25.
Deadline: Entries will be accepted from November 1st through December 22nd, 2007.
- Grand Prize: A comprehensive editorial evaluation of the complete manuscript, followed by a line-edit of the entire manuscript by Renni Browne. If the winning manuscript does not already have a literary agent, it will be entered into our Agent Matchmaking program.
- 2nd Prize: A coaching line-edit of the first 50 pages, which includes hands-on editing and polishing of a writer's style with attention to quality and flow of narrative voice, dialogue, proportion, mechanics and overall readability.
- 3rd Prize: A query and synopsis critique or a critique of the first 10 manuscript pages.
If you've never worked with an independent editor before and want to understand what to expect from manuscript evaluation and line-editing, we invite you to check out Renni Browne's article on the editor's craft by clicking here. (Opens in new window.)
Runners-up will receive individual notations on the submitted 50 pages by contest judges.
Prizewinners will be announced by February 1st, 2007.
Please click here to register.
Note: We strongly recommend that you read through the FAQs and Format Guidelines on the left before you submit your manuscript for consideration.
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