Exeter Novel Prize
This prestigious prize welcomes entries in English from all over the world, and 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.
Hellie Ogden, head of the book department at WME Agency's London Office will choose the short list and winner of the competition.
First prize - £1000
Five finalists receive £100
New for 2027: The highest placed entry from the EX postcode will receive a £200 EXcellence award.
By submitting the first 10,000 words of your novel, along with a synopsis, you are in with the chance of not only winning a prestigious prize but also - by daring to put your work out there in the world - getting your name and work noticed.
The Rules
Please read all the rules before you proceed: we don't want to disqualify anyone!
The 2027 Exeter Novel Prize is open for submissions from September 1st 2026 until 11.59pm on January 31st 2027, 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.
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.
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, with a synopsis in addition of not more than five hundred words. Your synopsis needs to demonstrate that you have plotted your entire novel, and to offer the outline of the plot and its structure. 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.
You may enter more than one novel, but each entry must be emailed separately and must be accompanied by a separate entry fee of £23.
Genres including Young Adult and New Adult are acceptable, but NOT middle grade please.
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 below). 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.
Entries must be in English.
Entrants must be over 18 years of age.
Entry must be made electronically and the fee paid via the website. The receipt issued by squarespace on payment of the entry fee is your receipt of entry. All receipts are matched with submissions and if we receive one without the other we will contact you. See How to Enter below.
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.
The decision of the judges is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
