How do I submit my entry to Novel Beginnings?

Here’s a step-by-step process for submitting your entry to our Novel Beginnings contest.

Step 1 - Log in to your account or sign up

To join the Novel Beginnings contest, you need a Free, Premium, or Premium Pro plan. Don’t have an account yet? No problem. You can sign up for a ProWritingAid account for free immediately.

Step 2 - Join the Novel Beginnings contest

After you have logged into your account, join Novel Beginnings. Click the “Enter now” button, and you’ll see a page that confirms your registration.

Step 3 - Pay the $20 entrance fee (Free plan users only)

If you have a Free plan, you will visit a secure payment page to pay the $20 entrance fee. If you have a Premium or Premium Pro plan, you can skip this step as your entrance is free.

Step 4 - Submit your entry

Novel Beginnings will be open for you to submit your entry from February 1st, 2026, to March 31st, 2026. During this time, you can access the Novel Beginnings dashboard to log your progress toward the 5,000-word sample of your novel for your entry.

Before you make your submission, check the entry requirements first to make sure you are following the formatting and word count rules. Submissions cannot exceed 5,000 words and must be at least 4,500 words, in 12-point Arial or Times New Roman font with 1.5 line spacing. When your submission is ready, click on the “Submit manuscript” button in the Novel Beginnings dashboard.

You can also access free resources in our Community to support you in creating your submission. That includes a Novel Beginnings course available on-demand any time, as well as group critique sessions, live writing sprints, and a workshop hosted by our expert panel of judges.

ProWritingAid is more than just an editing assistant; we’re here to help you bring your story to life. Unlock your story’s full potential with our in-depth writing reports, actionable feedback, and more.