Deadline: April 30, 2024

Find Out More: https://www.wilbur-niso-smithfoundation.org/index.php?p=awards/best-unpublished-manuscript-2019

Opportunity from: Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation

The New Voices Award supports writers to develop an idea they’ve yet to commit to paper, or those in the very early stages of their work in progress. The Award provides mentorship and editorial guidance for aspiring authors and encourages entries from all writers, including those from underrepresented backgrounds with a new story to tell.

The prize is exclusively for unpublished writers. Writers must not be represented by a literary agent, or be under an existing or future contract to any publisher. The work submitted must not have been previously self-published, or have been published in full or in part through any publisher or other media.

To participate, writers must submit their opening three chapters totalling no more than 10,000 words and a full plot outline of no more than 1,000 words detailing where they imagine the story will go. The winners will be revealed in Autumn 2024.

The New Voices Award is sponsored and supported by Bonnier Books UK, the publisher of Wilbur Smith’s vast treasure-trove of adventure fiction – including 2023’s much-anticipated historical epic novels Nemesis and Testament. Bonnier Books UK provides funding and editorial feedback to the prize, seeking to empower upcoming writers and uncover the emerging stars of the genre.

Full details available on the website.