2008 Competition Deadline Passed. Results due latest January 2009
The search is on to find the best budding novelist in the North West in our latest competition for long fiction writers!
This time we are searching for the best three opening chapters from a previously unpublished novelist.
The winner will get £250 and their own writing mentor to help them get their novel completed.
Six other promising novelists identified through the competition will be provided with significant assistance with their novel.
The competition welcomes submissions in any genre except children's fiction from all writers living or working in the North West. It's very difficult for new writers to get their first novel published - this competition provides a rare break for fledgling writers
By running this competition, Commonword hopes to assist new novelists in avoiding the frustration and pitfalls that come with developing a first novel.
Crocus have already launched the careers of several North West based authors, including Cath Staincliffe, Sherry Ashworth and Mike Duff. The last novel competition winner, David Evans, praised the competition for helping him achieve a life long ambition. His novel, A Touch of the Sun, a personal and political coming of age novel set in apartheid South Africa, was published to much acclaim.
How the Competition Works
Entrants should send a two page synopsis (comprising a story outline and details of main characters and themes) plus the first three chapters or fifty pages (whichever is the shorter) of their novel. Novels can be on any theme and in any genre except children’s fiction. We may run a children’s fiction competition at a later date,
The winner and six other authors will be offered the chance to work on their novels with the assistance of a writing mentor / editor.
Judging Process
Initial longlisting will be done by Crocus editors. Shortlisting and final selection will be done by guest judges.
Prizes
The winner will receive a £250 and the services of a mentor/editor. The six runners-up will receive the services of a mentor-editor.
Deadline for entries: 30 September 2008
Rules of Entry
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You should submit the first three consecutive chapters or 50 pages (whichever is the shorter) of your novel.
Each submission should be accompanied by an entry fee of £15 (waged) or £10 (unwaged).
Closing date for receipt of entries is 30 September 2008.
You must live in the north west of England to enter this Competition.
You must not have not had a novel published before.
All work must be your own original work and must be previously unpublished.
All entries should be typed in black ink on one side only of A4 paper. Pages should be securely fastened together. Neither fax nor email entries will be accepted.
Please do NOT print your name anywhere on the chapters but give your novel a working title and place your name and address, post code, telephone number and email address on a covering page or use the entry form.
Make sure you keep copies of all work submitted. We will NOT return work.
If you would like us to acknowledge receipt of your entry please send a SAE marked ‘Receipt’ and to know the names of the winners, please enclose a SAE marked ‘Results’.
Copyright in the chapters remains with individual entrants.
Mentors-editors will be chosen by Commonword.
The judges’ decision is final. Entry in the competition will be deemed to be unqualified acceptance of these rules.
Entry Form For Printing Out:
I wish to enter the Crocus First Three Chapters Competition
Working Title of Novel...........................................................................................................
 I enclose a fee of £15(waged) £10 (unwaged).
Name: .................................................................................................................................
Address: .............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................Postcode:................................
Tel No.: ................................................................................................
Email:………………………………...................................................……..
 I enclose a synopsis and the first three consecutive chapters of my novel
 I enclose an SAE marked ‘Receipt’
 I enclose an SAE marked ‘Results’
I enclose a cheque/postal order for £ .......... made payable to Commonword
Please return to: First Three Chapters
Commonword, 6 Mount Street, Manchester M2 5NS

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