The 2023 Exeter Novel Prize - short and long lists
We accept the first ten thousand words including synopsis of a novel that has not been accepted for publication by a traditional publishing house. It is open to all authors who are without representation by a literary agent at the closing date, whether or not they have previously been published. Our thanks to Hellie Ogden, head of the book dept at WME Agency's London office, who will be the final judge for the 2023 competition.
The competition is generously supported by Exeter Writers
The competition is generously supported by Exeter Writers
First prize - £1000 plus trophy
Five runners-up will receive £100 and a paperweight
We are delighted to announce the short list for the 2023 Exeter Novel Prize.
Huge congratulations to the six amazing authors who have made it this far. Our thanks to everyone who entered, it has been a great privilege to read all the submissions.
Our final judge, Hellie Ogden, will announce the winner on Saturday 27th April. We had nearly four hundred entries from all over the world so if your novel is not listed below please don't be too disappointed. It may do well elsewhere. If your title is below, we'd be delighted if you rejoiced on social media.
Five runners-up will receive £100 and a paperweight
We are delighted to announce the short list for the 2023 Exeter Novel Prize.
Huge congratulations to the six amazing authors who have made it this far. Our thanks to everyone who entered, it has been a great privilege to read all the submissions.
Our final judge, Hellie Ogden, will announce the winner on Saturday 27th April. We had nearly four hundred entries from all over the world so if your novel is not listed below please don't be too disappointed. It may do well elsewhere. If your title is below, we'd be delighted if you rejoiced on social media.
Short List:
Bad Business - Sasha Wilson
Between Us - Katherine Powlett
Buried Things - Christopher Pitt
Hamish Crum and the Lost Star - Clare Saxby
The Night Veil - Sara Lilley
The Paper Rose - Fiona Clarke
Bad Business - Sasha Wilson
Between Us - Katherine Powlett
Buried Things - Christopher Pitt
Hamish Crum and the Lost Star - Clare Saxby
The Night Veil - Sara Lilley
The Paper Rose - Fiona Clarke
Long List:
Bad Business - Sasha Wilson
Before the Tide - Rosalind Knight
Between Us - Katherine Powlett
Buried Things - Christopher Pitt
Father’s Day - Bruce Stewart
Feral - Mary Grehan
Hamish Crum and the Lost Star - Clare Saxby
I Shall Not Want - Joseph Diwaker
In the Thunder Air - Fran Brosan
Ink - Catherine Spooner
Istanbul Crossing - Timothy Smith (withdrawn)
Like the Flow of a River - Susan Burton
Robert Cecil - Richard Woulfe
Sir William - Jamie Nuttgens (withdrawn)
Tarnish - Clare Reddaway
The Betrothed - Jeffery Stephens
The Chameleon Bush - Tony Irvin
The Lost Blackbird - Lisa Perrat
The Night Veil - Sara Lilley
The Paper Rose - Fiona Clarke
The Protector of Fledglings - Angela Whitton
The Spinney - Laura Bellingham
The Strange Green Object - Linda MacConnell
The Taste of Blueberries - Clare Shaw Burgess
The Traitor’s Moon - Henry Coles (withdrawn)
Bad Business - Sasha Wilson
Before the Tide - Rosalind Knight
Between Us - Katherine Powlett
Buried Things - Christopher Pitt
Father’s Day - Bruce Stewart
Feral - Mary Grehan
Hamish Crum and the Lost Star - Clare Saxby
I Shall Not Want - Joseph Diwaker
In the Thunder Air - Fran Brosan
Ink - Catherine Spooner
Istanbul Crossing - Timothy Smith (withdrawn)
Like the Flow of a River - Susan Burton
Robert Cecil - Richard Woulfe
Sir William - Jamie Nuttgens (withdrawn)
Tarnish - Clare Reddaway
The Betrothed - Jeffery Stephens
The Chameleon Bush - Tony Irvin
The Lost Blackbird - Lisa Perrat
The Night Veil - Sara Lilley
The Paper Rose - Fiona Clarke
The Protector of Fledglings - Angela Whitton
The Spinney - Laura Bellingham
The Strange Green Object - Linda MacConnell
The Taste of Blueberries - Clare Shaw Burgess
The Traitor’s Moon - Henry Coles (withdrawn)
NB For those who paid the extra fee, all the reports have now been sent out. If you have not received yours, please check your spam box before contacting us.
APPRAISALS - for an extra fee, we will write a one-page appraisal of your submission. These have proved very popular in the past. Here are some of the responses from last year:
'I just wanted to thank you all for doing such a tremendous job with the Exeter Novel Prize and in particular, for the thoughtful and encouraging feedback you gave me on my two entries.' Dianne Gammage
'Your report contains plenty of useful suggestions which I shall make use of, especially in respect of my synopsis. A well-invested and modest expense.' Maggie Davies
'Thank you for sending your appraisal which I will continue to read with interest. There’s certainly plenty to digest and reflect on, and I appreciate the way you’ve offered a balanced and sober assessment.' Adrian Lacey
'The feedback is extremely helpful and comprehensive, and has given me lots to think through. I really appreciate it and the time you've taken to read and understand the story.' Ella Gee
APPRAISALS - for an extra fee, we will write a one-page appraisal of your submission. These have proved very popular in the past. Here are some of the responses from last year:
'I just wanted to thank you all for doing such a tremendous job with the Exeter Novel Prize and in particular, for the thoughtful and encouraging feedback you gave me on my two entries.' Dianne Gammage
'Your report contains plenty of useful suggestions which I shall make use of, especially in respect of my synopsis. A well-invested and modest expense.' Maggie Davies
'Thank you for sending your appraisal which I will continue to read with interest. There’s certainly plenty to digest and reflect on, and I appreciate the way you’ve offered a balanced and sober assessment.' Adrian Lacey
'The feedback is extremely helpful and comprehensive, and has given me lots to think through. I really appreciate it and the time you've taken to read and understand the story.' Ella Gee
RULES
1. The 2023 Exeter Novel Prize is open for submissions until 11.59pm on January 1st 2024, which is without exception the closing date. Any entries received after this date will be disqualified and no refund of the entry fee will be made.
2. The competition is open to everyone, living anywhere in the world, published, self-published or yet to be published, who is not represented by a literary agent. All those long-listed will be asked if they are still eligible to go forward.
3. Entries should take the form of the opening of your novel (not a random selection of scenes) and must not exceed a total of ten thousand words, which includes a synopsis of not more than five hundred words. Any entries received without a synopsis will be disqualified. Entries must be the author’s own work. The novel does not have to be complete. Self-published novels are acceptable.
4. You may enter more than one novel, but each entry must be emailed separately and must be accompanied by a separate entry fee.
5. All genres including children’s of Middle Grade (9-12), Young Adult and New Adult are acceptable.
6. Your name should not appear anywhere on the attachment. The attached file's name should be the same as the title of your novel and as it appears in the subject line of your email (minus ENP, see How to Enter). Only doc, docx, rtf and pdf files will be accepted. Any other formats will be disqualified. Please present your work in 12pt Times New Roman or Arial, 1.5 or double-spaced.
7. Entries must be in English.
8. Entrants must be over 18 years of age.
9. Entry must be made electronically and the fee paid via Paypal. The prize monies will be awarded via Paypal. The receipt issued by Paypal on payment of the entry fee is your receipt of entry. All Paypal receipts are matched with submissions and if we receive one without the other we will contact you. See How to Enter below. If you do not already have a Paypal account, please visit www.paypal.com for details.
10. Literary agent, Hellie Ogden from WME Agency will be the final judge. Although the organisers hope the winning entrant will achieve publication, no guarantee of agent representation or publication can be given.
11. The decision of the judges is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
1. The 2023 Exeter Novel Prize is open for submissions until 11.59pm on January 1st 2024, which is without exception the closing date. Any entries received after this date will be disqualified and no refund of the entry fee will be made.
2. The competition is open to everyone, living anywhere in the world, published, self-published or yet to be published, who is not represented by a literary agent. All those long-listed will be asked if they are still eligible to go forward.
3. Entries should take the form of the opening of your novel (not a random selection of scenes) and must not exceed a total of ten thousand words, which includes a synopsis of not more than five hundred words. Any entries received without a synopsis will be disqualified. Entries must be the author’s own work. The novel does not have to be complete. Self-published novels are acceptable.
4. You may enter more than one novel, but each entry must be emailed separately and must be accompanied by a separate entry fee.
5. All genres including children’s of Middle Grade (9-12), Young Adult and New Adult are acceptable.
6. Your name should not appear anywhere on the attachment. The attached file's name should be the same as the title of your novel and as it appears in the subject line of your email (minus ENP, see How to Enter). Only doc, docx, rtf and pdf files will be accepted. Any other formats will be disqualified. Please present your work in 12pt Times New Roman or Arial, 1.5 or double-spaced.
7. Entries must be in English.
8. Entrants must be over 18 years of age.
9. Entry must be made electronically and the fee paid via Paypal. The prize monies will be awarded via Paypal. The receipt issued by Paypal on payment of the entry fee is your receipt of entry. All Paypal receipts are matched with submissions and if we receive one without the other we will contact you. See How to Enter below. If you do not already have a Paypal account, please visit www.paypal.com for details.
10. Literary agent, Hellie Ogden from WME Agency will be the final judge. Although the organisers hope the winning entrant will achieve publication, no guarantee of agent representation or publication can be given.
11. The decision of the judges is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
HOW TO ENTER
1 - Please read all the rules before you proceed. We don't want to disqualify anyone.
2 - In the subject line of your email, type ENP followed by the title of your novel.
3 - In the body of the email type your name, contact details (postal address and mobile and/or landline number) and the title of your novel. If payment is made using a different name, it is essential you include that name in the email you send with the novel.
4 - Attach your novel and synopsis (as one document) in one of the formats set out in Rule 6. Your name and contact details must not appear anywhere on the attachment. Email to office@creativewritingmatters.co.uk
5 - Click on the appropriate Paypal button below and pay the fee.
2 - In the subject line of your email, type ENP followed by the title of your novel.
3 - In the body of the email type your name, contact details (postal address and mobile and/or landline number) and the title of your novel. If payment is made using a different name, it is essential you include that name in the email you send with the novel.
4 - Attach your novel and synopsis (as one document) in one of the formats set out in Rule 6. Your name and contact details must not appear anywhere on the attachment. Email to office@creativewritingmatters.co.uk
5 - Click on the appropriate Paypal button below and pay the fee.
Exeter Novel Prize entry fee - £20
Entry fee and appraisal - £120