The 2024 Exeter Novel Prize - Short List
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 chose the short list and winner for the 2024 competition.
Huge congratulations to our final six!
The award ceremony will be on Saturday 10th May and the winner announced shortly afterwards.
Commiserations to all those who didn't make it but very tough choices had to be made this year. It was a privilege to read the submissions and we wish everyone the best of luck in the future.
The award ceremony will be on Saturday 10th May and the winner announced shortly afterwards.
Commiserations to all those who didn't make it but very tough choices had to be made this year. It was a privilege to read the submissions and we wish everyone the best of luck in the future.
Short List
A View of the Open Sky – Elisa Oh
Bahadur is my Name – Loftus Brown
Last Castle Standing – Nida Broughton
The Alchemy of Light – Lenore Hart
The King's Wife – Lauren Neely
The Revenge of Hepsibah Brown – Beth Webb
A View of the Open Sky – Elisa Oh
Bahadur is my Name – Loftus Brown
Last Castle Standing – Nida Broughton
The Alchemy of Light – Lenore Hart
The King's Wife – Lauren Neely
The Revenge of Hepsibah Brown – Beth Webb
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First prize - £1000 plus trophy
Five finalists receive £100 and a paperweight The competition is generously supported by Exeter Writers
Appraisals
These have all been sent out now. If you paid the extra fee for an appraisal but have not received yours, please get in touch. |
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Long List
A View of the Open Sky – Elisa Oh
An Inquest of Eels – Jane Bitomsky (withdrawn)
Bahadur is my Name – Loftus Brown
Changed - Stephanie Simpson McLellan
Headland House – Abby Williams
Hew & Omari – Taize Jackson
I, said the Sparrow – Sally Bromley
Last Castle Standing – Nida Broughton
Lightfoot and Mole – Rachel Kenefick
Mascara Nights – Cate Sweeney
Men Would Kill for This – Sheena MJ Cook (withdrawn)
Mulberry Court – Kate Lee
Nighthawks – Angela Jobson
Not a Word – Sally Sheridan
Red Rubicon – Kim Botly
Scavenger – Graham Hobbs
The Alchemy of Light – Lenore Hart
The Cygnet – Elizabeth Anna Whyatt
The Family in Room 32 – Fiona Mitchell
The King's Wife – Lauren Neely
The Nighthawks – Melanie Wood
The Other Boy – Colleen Prendergast
The Palace of Deceptions – Christine Michael
The Return of Freddie Watson – Aileen Izett
The Revenge of Hepsibah Brown – Beth Webb
The Three Arrows – Tamako Takamatsu
Time to Leave - Elaine Maguire O'Connor
Water Damage – Rebecca Saire
You / I – John Tovey
A View of the Open Sky – Elisa Oh
An Inquest of Eels – Jane Bitomsky (withdrawn)
Bahadur is my Name – Loftus Brown
Changed - Stephanie Simpson McLellan
Headland House – Abby Williams
Hew & Omari – Taize Jackson
I, said the Sparrow – Sally Bromley
Last Castle Standing – Nida Broughton
Lightfoot and Mole – Rachel Kenefick
Mascara Nights – Cate Sweeney
Men Would Kill for This – Sheena MJ Cook (withdrawn)
Mulberry Court – Kate Lee
Nighthawks – Angela Jobson
Not a Word – Sally Sheridan
Red Rubicon – Kim Botly
Scavenger – Graham Hobbs
The Alchemy of Light – Lenore Hart
The Cygnet – Elizabeth Anna Whyatt
The Family in Room 32 – Fiona Mitchell
The King's Wife – Lauren Neely
The Nighthawks – Melanie Wood
The Other Boy – Colleen Prendergast
The Palace of Deceptions – Christine Michael
The Return of Freddie Watson – Aileen Izett
The Revenge of Hepsibah Brown – Beth Webb
The Three Arrows – Tamako Takamatsu
Time to Leave - Elaine Maguire O'Connor
Water Damage – Rebecca Saire
You / I – John Tovey
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:
- Thank you so much for this report, incredibly motivating, helpful and insightful, I’m already actioning the suggestions - Laura Bellingham
- Many thanks to your team and especially to Margaret James for her thoughtful—and very helpful—response to my entry. Among the several contests I’ve entered, and the several queries I’ve already sent out, I haven’t yet received a response as thorough and intelligent as hers - Gregory Bayer
- Many thanks for your constructive feedback. This was my first children's novel, and I am so pleased to read what worked and how to improve it - Margaret Magee
RULES
1. The 2024 Exeter Novel Prize is open for submissions until 11.59pm on January 1st 2025, 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 attachment should have the same name as the title of your novel 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 2024 Exeter Novel Prize is open for submissions until 11.59pm on January 1st 2025, 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 attachment should have the same name as the title of your novel 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 including appraisal - £150