Novel Fair 2014

The Prize

Twelve entrants will be anonymously selected by a judging panel to take part in the Irish Writers’ Centre Novel Fair on February 22nd, 2014. Each writer will have a stand at the Fair where they will present the synopsis of their novel, the finished novel itself and biographical material. Top Irish publishers and agents will be invited to the Irish Writers’ Centre to meet these writers in person.

Entry Details

There is no limitation on style, genre, or target market, the only requirement being that the writer has not published a novel before.
To enter send a synopsis and up to 10,000 words of a novel.
Deadline for submissions: October 16th, 2013.

Terms and Conditions

• Applicants are required to send a synopsis of a maximum of 300 words and up to five chapters of their novel, which should be no longer than 10,000 words. Please send two copies of the manuscript and three copies of the synopsis. One copy of the synopsis should be attached to the application form, the other two should be attached to the copies of your manuscript.
• Entries must be accompanied by an application form.
• There is a limit of one entry per applicant.
• Entries are welcome from anywhere in the world, however, in order to be eligible applicants must be available to attend the whole day of the Fair.
• Entries must be in English.
• While there is no minimum word count for the final novel, a minimum of 50,000 words is recommended.
• All material should be double spaced in size twelve Times New Roman font. Pages should be numbered and include the final word count of the submitted chapters.
• Material should be bound or stapled together. Bulldog clips will be accepted but paperclips will not.
• The applicant’s name must not appear anywhere on the synopsis or manuscript. It should appear only on the entry form.
• Notification of receipt of entry will be sent by email. Please allow 28 days for a response.
• Entry fee for applications is €40 for non-members and €35 for IWC Members and is non-refundable. This can be paid by PayPal, cheque, or postal order – or by calling in person to the Irish Writers’ Centre with cash, credit or debit card. If paying by PayPal, please attach a printed copy of your Paypal receipt.
• E-mail submissions will not be accepted. All submissions should be posted or hand-delivered to: Novel Fair Competition, The Irish Writers’ Centre, 19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, Ireland.
• The competition is limited to unpublished novelists who have not signed with any agents or publishers. Applicants who have already had work accepted by a publisher, or have been previously had a novel published, will not be eligible.
• Writers who attend the Fair and subsequently sign with an agent or publisher must acknowledge the Irish Writers’ Centre in promotional material relating to the acquisition of the book.
• A published novel is defined as one that has an ISBN.
• Applicants who are signed by agents or publishers before the Novel Fair has taken place are required to notify the Irish Writers’ Centre immediately.
• Shortlisted applicants must have the completed novel ready for publication by January 27th, 2014. If not, they will be ineligible. Only shortlisted applicants will be asked for proof of their completed manuscript. At this point, writers will be required to sign a declaration that they have not been signed by a publisher or agent.
• The Irish Writers’ Centre will not return manuscripts entered.
• Applicants must be over 18 years of age.
• Hand-delivered submissions must be received no later than 5pm on Wednesday, October 16th, 2013. Entries received after this date will not be accepted. Entries submitted by post that are postmarked with dates up to and including October 16th, 2013 will be accepted for consideration. Entries postmarked after this date will not be accepted.
• Successful applicants will be contacted by 24th January, 2014 at which time they will be required to submit the entire novel, a CV and photograph and must be able to attend the Fair in person.
• For any other queries please e-mail novelfair@writerscentre.ie.