The 2023 Exeter Novel Prize
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
Winner - Fiona Clarke for The Paper Rose
Five finalists receive £100 and a paperweight
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
We are delighted to announce the winner of the 2023 Exeter Novel Prize.
Our thanks to everyone who entered, it has been a great privilege to read all the submissions.
It was a pleasure to 'meet' our six finalists at the Zoom ceremony on Saturday 27th April and we all enjoyed hearing the opening page of their submissions. What a wonderful and varied list! There is, however, only one big trophy and we were all agog to know which novel our final judge, Hellie Ogden, would chose. Her comments on all six are below.
Congratulations are deserved all round, but a special cheer must go to Fiona Clarke, for her winning and very gripping thriller The Paper Rose.
Winner - Fiona Clarke for The Paper Rose
Five finalists receive £100 and a paperweight
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
We are delighted to announce the winner of the 2023 Exeter Novel Prize.
Our thanks to everyone who entered, it has been a great privilege to read all the submissions.
It was a pleasure to 'meet' our six finalists at the Zoom ceremony on Saturday 27th April and we all enjoyed hearing the opening page of their submissions. What a wonderful and varied list! There is, however, only one big trophy and we were all agog to know which novel our final judge, Hellie Ogden, would chose. Her comments on all six are below.
Congratulations are deserved all round, but a special cheer must go to Fiona Clarke, for her winning and very gripping thriller The Paper Rose.
Short List with comments from our judge, Hellie Ogden
Bad Business - Sasha Wilson
An opening that hooks you from the get go. Louise and Eleanor instantly feel like characters you want to know inside out. Beautifully explores friendship and love at a later age through a story underpinned with secrets.
Between Us - Katherine Powlett
Tenderly explores a fractured marriage and family. The author deals with the themes in a gentle but raw way that hits all the ups and downs of life with motherhood in its entirety at its centre.
Buried Things - Christopher Pitt
A tender portrayal of grief through the eyes of a child who feels responsible for holding his mother together and getting rid of her pain. Atmospheric writings lends itself to the story of a family weighed down with grief. Hope feels possible as the optimism of children pushes them to face their past.
Hamish Crum and the Lost Star - Clare Saxby
Such a good opening line. A really thoughtful epic tale that crosses the globe. The writing feels sweeping and takes the reader on a magnificent journey.
The Night Veil - Sara Lilley
Threaded with deception and trickery, this is a curious exploration of grief that has swelled and pushed twins siblings apart. It looks at how a shared loss can cause two people to end up on different paths through a haunting, speculative lens.
The Paper Rose - Fiona Clarke - winner
A gorgeous opening leads us into a deceptively normal first chapter where Jess is finding her way home after a one-night stand. But what is to follow is a twisted thriller that causes two families to collide while navigating their own tragedies. The deceptive letters are a clever vehicle used to set off the unravelling of two families.
Bad Business - Sasha Wilson
An opening that hooks you from the get go. Louise and Eleanor instantly feel like characters you want to know inside out. Beautifully explores friendship and love at a later age through a story underpinned with secrets.
Between Us - Katherine Powlett
Tenderly explores a fractured marriage and family. The author deals with the themes in a gentle but raw way that hits all the ups and downs of life with motherhood in its entirety at its centre.
Buried Things - Christopher Pitt
A tender portrayal of grief through the eyes of a child who feels responsible for holding his mother together and getting rid of her pain. Atmospheric writings lends itself to the story of a family weighed down with grief. Hope feels possible as the optimism of children pushes them to face their past.
Hamish Crum and the Lost Star - Clare Saxby
Such a good opening line. A really thoughtful epic tale that crosses the globe. The writing feels sweeping and takes the reader on a magnificent journey.
The Night Veil - Sara Lilley
Threaded with deception and trickery, this is a curious exploration of grief that has swelled and pushed twins siblings apart. It looks at how a shared loss can cause two people to end up on different paths through a haunting, speculative lens.
The Paper Rose - Fiona Clarke - winner
A gorgeous opening leads us into a deceptively normal first chapter where Jess is finding her way home after a one-night stand. But what is to follow is a twisted thriller that causes two families to collide while navigating their own tragedies. The deceptive letters are a clever vehicle used to set off the unravelling of two families.
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 [email protected]
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 [email protected]
5 - Click on the appropriate Paypal button below and pay the fee.
Exeter Novel Prize entry fee - £20
Entry fee and appraisal - £120
