Coming soon: Novel Beginnings
Kickstart your writing career with our $50,000 grand prize.
Why Novel Beginnings
We believe stories change the world and that aspiring writers deserve real support to have the space to create them.
Too often, writers are told to pursue their dreams on the side, forced to wait until they’re “good enough,” or to treat their work as a hobby rather than a calling.
More than that, over the last year, hundreds of arts organizations have seen their grants slashed, leaving aspiring writers without access to needed resources.
We don’t believe that should be the case.
We believe writers deserve to have the funding they need to pursue their dreams.
That’s why Novel Beginnings exists.
In our forthcoming Novel Beginnings contest, we will offer one new writer a $50,000 grand prize and nine shortlisted writers $5,000 runner-up prizes to help fund their dreams and bring their stories to life.
This contest is our way of investing in writers before success, not after it.
By offering funding, visibility, and belief at the beginning, we’re helping writers create the time and space their stories need to grow.
Writers matter. Stories matter. Writers’ dreams are worth backing.
Register your interest today, and we’ll send you more details soon.
How Novel Beginnings will work
Prepare
Build your foundation before you write.
Start with our guided course, designed to help you shape your submission. Ask questions and learn directly from our panel of expert judges (published authors, editors, and industry professionals) so you’re not guessing what makes a strong beginning.
Write
Show up and put words on the page, together.
Work on your submission alongside us in daily writing sprints. We’ll help you build momentum with structure, accountability, and a supportive community, so you’re not trying to hit your word count alone.
Connect
Refine your work with real feedback.
You’ll connect with fellow writers through group critique sessions and community discussions, sharing early pages, exchanging feedback, and learning what’s working. Sharpen your ideas, develop your confidence, and make your work submission-ready.