Inaugural Cheshire Novel Prize launches

A new writing award, the Cheshire Novel Prize, is launching featuring judges such as Juliet Mushens and feedback guaranteed for every entry.

Editorial consultant Sara Cox founded the prize — which includes £1,500 for the winner and a £500 runner up prize — to help unrepresented authors. The judging panel includes Mushens (pictured), of Mushens Entertainment, Penguin Michael Joseph editorial director Clio Cornish, along with Moyette Gibbons, communications manager at Black Girl Writers (which will sponsor five black women writers from low-income backgrounds to enter the Cheshire Novel Prize). Other panelists include RCW’s Honor Spreckley, editor Sally O-J and writer Awais Khan. 

Submissions run from 1st January to 1st April 2022. Entrants must send in the first 5,000 words of their book and a one-page outline of the plot. The competition is open to writers over the age of 18 of any nationality and resident in any country and all entries will receive feedback on their writing. 

The entry fee is £25, though a number of writers from disadvantaged backgrounds can submit for free due to a number of sponsorships. Additionally, 10% of all entry fees will go to charities chosen by the judges. 

Organisers said: "Putting your work out there is never an easy decision. That’s why we believe that every writer should receive at least a paragraph of feedback as to why they were not longlisted or shortlisted. Having that feedback can really help writers to realise that not only is reading subjective, but sometimes the reasons for not being longlisted have nothing to do with the quality of the work or the ability of the writer."

Cox, who runs creative writing editorial services, said: “Trying to break through into the publishing world can seem very daunting and so I wanted to help by setting up a competition for unrepresented writers. We’re looking forward to reading the fresh, exciting stories the entrants come up with.” 

For full details, visit cheshirenovelprize.com.