Trapeze and eharmony seek to find 'next great love story'

Trapeze Books is partnering with dating website eharmony to launch a creative writing competition seeking to "find the next great love story".

The competition will tie-in with eharmony’s 10th anniversary Love Stories campaign, which aims to highlight the diverse love stories of real couples.

Entrants are invited to submit the first 5,000 words of a love story accompanied by a synopsis and a short biography, with the winner being offered a publishing contract with Trapeze worth £10,000, as well as mentoring from Trapeze author Anna Stuart.

The shortlisted entries will be judged by agents and editors from C+W Agency and Trapeze Books, representatives from eharmony, as well as journalist and editor, Sarah Shaffi.

Submissions are open from 16th May 2018 with a deadline of 30th July 2018. The shortlist will be announced on the 1st October 2018 and the winner announced in November 2018.

Sue Armstrong, agent at C+W, said: “I’m delighted to be a part of this competition and very much hope we find not just a powerful love story but an exceptional new voice in fiction. I’ll be looking for great storytelling, vivid characters and emotional impact whether it’s gothic, contemporary, speculative, grounded, romantic or dark. All love stories are welcome.”

Sam Eades, editor at Trapeze Books, added: “I can’t wait to find the next great love story, and cannot think of better partners than C+W and eharmony. From high-concept contemporary romances like The Time Traveller’s Wife through to darker tales of obsessive love in Wuthering Heights, I’m looking for a timeless tale that will appeal to the widest possible audience.”