The Bath Novel Award 2024 is a £5,000 international writing prize for unagented emerging writers who may be unpublished, self-published or independently published.
We are looking for adult and YA novels in every genre. Initial submissions are your opening 5,000 words and one-page synopsis of a manuscript which is complete at over 50,000 words.
The author of 2024’s winning manuscript, as judged by Catherine Cho, founder of the Paper Literary agency, will receive a £5,000 cash prize. The winner will also receive our beautiful Minerva trophy, based on the world famous sculpture in Bath’s Roman Baths.
All listees win feedback worth £180 on their opening pages from an editorial director at Cornerstones Literary Consultancy. Shortlisted writers also win a compilation of award readers’ comments on their full manuscripts.
One longlisted writer will also win a place worth £1,980 on the 18 week virtual course Edit Your Novel the Professional Way from Cornerstones Literary Consultancy and the Professional Writing Academy.
Entries are open worldwide until 31 May 2024. The entrance fee is £29.99 per novel with sponsored places available for writers on a low income.
Bath Novel Award recipients include Abi Daré for the manuscript of international bestseller The Girl with the Louding Voice, new James Bond author Kim Sherwood for the manuscript of Testament and AP Firdaus for BBC Between the Covers pick Remember, Mr Sharma.