How will Novel Beginnings submissions be judged?

Novel Beginnings submissions will be judged by four evaluation and selection rounds: initial screening, longlist, shortlist, and final winner.

Initial screening

Submissions in the initial screening round will be judged by a group of volunteers who will assess works for originality, literary merit, writing quality, and marketability.

Longlist

The highest-scoring submissions will be selected for the longlist. Submissions at this stage will be reviewed to ensure all rules of entry have been followed.

Shortlist

The final shortlist will be of up to 10 entries. A panel of bestselling authors, editors, and industry professionals will judge our shortlist. Find out more about who is judging Novel Beginnings.

Final winner

The final winner of the $50,000 grand prize will be announced in May 2026.

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.