Janklow & Nesbit UK launches Literary Love Stories Prize

Janklow & Nesbit UK has launched the Janklow & Nesbit UK Fiction Prize for literary love stories, in celebration of the UK office’s 25th anniversary.

To enter the 2025 competition, unpublished writers aged over 18, who are currently a resident in the UK or the Republic of Ireland, should submit the first 5,000 words of their story. The winner will receive a prize of £2,000 and a one-to-one session with Federico Andornino, executive publisher at Sceptre Books – the literary imprint of Hodder & Stoughton – who will also be a judge this year.

The winner will also be offered representation by Janklow & Nesbit UK, which represents a number of authors of literary love stories, including André Aciman, Monica Heisey and Jeffrey Eugenides.

Emma Leong, an agent with Janklow & Nesbit, said: "Who doesn’t love a love story? What better way to demonstrate human connection, how to love and be loved, and capture readers’ hearts. We’re very excited to be launching this prize, in celebration of our 25th anniversary, and look forward to reading all the entries."

Janklow & Nesbit UK director and literary agent Claire Paterson Conrad will also be judging this year’s competition, alongside journalist Roisin Kelly and authors Chukwuebuka Ibeh and Kate Weinberg.

The deadline for submissions is 9th April 2025, and the shortlist will be announced on 16th June. The winner will be announced on 21st July 2025.