Got a novel in you? Here's your chance to get published

[KateMumsnet]

First novel competition: If you think you've got a novel in you, but despair of ever being published, stand by: in partnership with renowned literary agency Janklow & Nesbit, we're launching a fantastic competition for unpublished novelists.

Submit the first 8,000 words of your novel - Janklow & Nesbit guarantee to read every single entry. One enormous stumbling block to getting published is simply being noticed - so this really is an amazing opportunity.

The fantastic prize on offer is representation by J&N - setting you firmly on the path to publication: get details of how to enter here.

If you'd like to enter, but could use a bit of bespoke advice, we've organised a one-day Get Published course on Saturday 29 November 2014, where you'll have the chance to pick the brains of the Janklow agents and leading editors - and pick up tips from authors who've already broken through.

What are you waiting for?

Duplodance - That made me feel a lot better. I have taken the dragons out of mine :)

I find with any length synopsis that the task is just daunting. It would be easier just to bullet point, but it is more difficult to write a good synopsis to show that you are actually any good at writing and to convey mood, themes, setting etc. Not to mention plot, main characters and areas of conflict. My DH is my best critic, however I can't get him to proofread my synopsis, as it contains spoilers and he is only halfway through reading my actual novel.

Thecountessoffitz - Good advice. I went away and came back to mine, and did almost what you suggest, before seeing your post.

It is all good practice!

How do you add from the Smiley's List? I am a long time lurker, but quite new at posting on MN.

Thanks, duplodancer (though too late: I spent hours today, slashing and burning words... quite fun!)

Submitted today. Very pleased when it flew away into JN's inbox. I seem to have been rewriting the first paragraph for months . . .

Is there a type of format specified?

Good luck, everyone!

Bluecoconutglittercat, that's exactly how I feel. My synopsis was okay at 1500 words, passable at 1000, and now after cutting it down to 500 it reads like a luridly-plotted See Spot Run book: he does this, she does that, they blah blah blah. (No motives, either. No space for motives. Like Nike, they Just Do It.)

Is everyone including the dragons synopsis in their email and attaching the writing itself as a Word document? Or something different?

I've discovered that bastard em-dashes are counted as words in my word-count!

501

Dear MumsnetHQ

Apologies for another query. But should our names appear on the manuscript sample and synopsis (500 word outline) or should it be our mumsnet alias? Thanks so much I wasn't sure whether it was supposed to be anonymous or not (on the manuscript). I'll be sending it from my Hotmail which does have my name on it.

THanks so much for further information!

LeavingLA - I find writing a synopsis is a bit like stuffing a pig into a sack, once you think you have got it all in, a foot or head pokes out. Sometimes even to bite you in the bum, so you drop it and have to start again! :)

For those asking about formatting - if you go to the main J & N website you will find a bit about submissions with suggestions on font size and spacing etc.

Thank you Blue I will hunt there.

MegCleary - I wanted to post the link but cant find it now. I will have another look, because I am sure I saw it the other day.

Thanks Blue I have emailed them via their queries, betwwen us I shall be answered!

Well, that's me submitted. Nothing ventured, nothing gained I suppose. How's everyone else getting on? Only one more week left to go!

I wonder how many they will receive. I won't send mine till the last minute - never can, will be tweaking things till then - but I'd love to know what sort of volume they get and how many more in the final 24 hours.

Have you all embedded or attached your outlines and have you included a covering note in your email?

Quick question- how have you all formatted your entries?

I was planning to send a single document as a Word attachment (in case they plan to add notes onto the documents electonically), laid out in this order:

1. Cover page: Novel title, real name, mn username
2. Synopsis
3. 8000 word submission

I was not planning to write a covering letter/bio has one has not been requested.

How about anyone else? Don't want to mess it up on something so basic as formatting....

I submitted mine today too. I reckon there are about twenty on this thread alone who say they've submitted or very strongly intend to do so and just need to tweak their 8000 words a bit more/complete the synopsis. And there are probably lots of people who haven't posted on this thread too... and some people might join mumsnet specifically to enter the competition. I also expect there will be a last minute flurry on 30th Jan! So there should be lots of entries.

I relate to those people below saying just getting it submitted is a pretty mighty achievement! I feel v proud of myself. At least I have proved to myself that I have more motivation and organisation than I thought, even if the actual writing turns out to need a lot more work. I feel determined to plough on and keep writing having worked towards getting this in.:)

Good luck to everyone. Do you think we will get to read the short-listed entries?

Submitting is definitely a good filter, but they may still be shocked by the volumes!

I reckon it will run into the hundreds: loads of people will register just to enter.

thisisnovel thank you, I'm going to enter after all, if I can get my arse in gear...!
Good luck to everyone.

Do I need a covering letter with my entry? How do I make it anonymous?

Lizziediva and Whatevs -- I might be missing something, but there doesn't seem to be much exact info about formatting and attachments etc.

I think I'll plonk the 8000 words, plus synopsis, into one Word document. I'll put my Mumsnet username and real name in the email, but not the document, since shouldn't it be anonymous? I'm just going on other competitions' instructions, really. The Lucy Cavendish one is very detailed!

Blueglitter mentioned some submissions guidelines on the J & N website, and I could swear I saw them a while ago, too, but I can only find some very general stuff now. If this is a mental agility test, then I've already fallen on my face.