Anyone want to join a Jan Feb competition thread?

[Peasnbeans]

I know that people say they are not a good thing but I do find they give me a boost and some needed validation that I'm not writing into a void.
I've set myself £150 to spend this year (2024) on entries when I have to pay. Some I refuse to enter for different reasons.
I've just sent off to Exeter Novel Prize - it's expensive but I was longlisted last year so it's worth another go with new work.
Anyone out there willing to be a virtual writerly friend?

[InfiniteTeas]

If it's novel competitions you're looking at, have you seen the Cheshire Novel Prize? It provides feedback for all entries and they do an agent showcase for either the longlist or the long longlist - I can't remember which. It's only been running for a couple of years, but people are talking very positively about it.

[BecauseOfIndia]

Hi @Peasnbeans I will join your thread! I also entered the Exeter competition, although as I'm currently on a low income I really had to debate with myself about it. Did getting longlisted help you in anyway?

I've also entered Mslexia (got a subsidised entry, so that made a difference).

I find competitions slightly heartbreaking as it's more rejection, especially hard when you're also being ghosted by agents. I feel that some of them - Bath for instance, and Cheshire, favour more commercial novels and as mine is literary fiction I'm not sure it's worth the entry fee.

Which other ones are you planning to enter?

[everythingcrossed]

Thanks for the heads up yesterday @Peasnbeans . I quickly submitted an entry to the Exeter Prize before the deadline.

I know what you mean, @BecauseOfIndia . I always submit to competitions - and agencies - with an unrealistic (and, for me, unusual) sense of optimism and feel really disappointed further along the line. I think you're right that a lot of the competitions are looking for novels that easily fit a genre or have a great hook and mine doesn't conform to either of those. I feel, however, that I have to do something and I'm fortunate enough to be able to spend the odd £15/20 on entry fees. I also entered Mslexia - it was only after that I recognised the name of the main judge as an agent who had turned down my novel .

[Averynicerejectionletter]

Ooh can I join in? 2023 was a write-off for me in so many different ways so 2024 will be my year of doing things for me. Starter for ten, today I wrote both a book synopsis and my Biography as I’m going to enter the ST non-fiction competition. I haven’t told anyone I’m doing it. When asked by my DH today what I’d been up to, I replied ‘nothing much’ - I sort of feel the need to not share my ambition in this area, but no idea why, I’m sure he’d be supportive. My DD will be off to Uni in September so I need something to focus on before deciding if I get back into my previous career. Or who knows? Maybe I’ll have a new one 😉

[BecauseOfIndia]

@everythingcrossed The main judge of Exeter has previously rejected my novel! I figured the chances of me getting close to the short list was slim so I entered anyway.

I find myself entering things these days with a totally fatalistic outlook and yet I can't stop trying. I was absolutely crushed not to get long listed in Bath and Bridport last year, as after so many revisions of my opening I had started to get full ms requests, I thought my book was finally there 😞

[Bella43]

Hello, can I join please? I'm trying again with the competitions and have started writing a brand new novel. I've written historical fiction previously and love writing short stories and poetry too. I know what you mean about the competitions being heartbreaking. I've been shortlisted once and made the longlist a few times. I've also had several full ms requests and while this is all wonderful, they came to nothing and I'm back at square one again.

I've made the difficult decision to rest my historical fiction novel for a while and work on something new. The positive feedback I've received in the past has stuck with me. I now have the same gentle voice in my new work, the same focus on love and friendship but with a contemporary, fresh feel. It's commercial fiction and I'm happy with it so far but there's a long way to go.

As for the competitions, I'm limited financially so only go for those which are free or have sponsored places. Once I submit, I try and forget about them. I used to memorise all the key announcement dates but now I'm taking a more relaxed approach. Here's to all of us for 2024! 🥂 🎉 📚

[Averynicerejectionletter]

@Bella43 go you! (And me 😂) I just re-read my first couple of chapters that I wrote last year and they were actually quite good. I surprised myself. I’m in edit mode now. I only have to submit two chapters and in the highly unlikely event I am shortlisted or win, apparently I have another year to finish it. I have absolutely no idea what I am doing in terms of editing but giving it a go nevertheless. I haven’t written since I was at School so it’s probably utter shite but it made me laugh.

New year, new me! I’m trying to be positive, this time next year I shall be 4 stones lighter, not be a borderline alcoholic because I am fecking bored and being a lazy cow and have a book deal. (🤞🏻)

[Bella43]

@Averynicerejectionletter Yayyy! I love coming back to old work and thinking it's actually quite good 👏 Sometimes all you need is a bit of distance and then you see it with fresh eyes. I hope you reach all of your goals in 2024 😊

[WonderfulCheese]

@InfiniteTeas

If it's novel competitions you're looking at, have you seen the Cheshire Novel Prize? It provides feedback for all entries and they do an agent showcase for either the longlist or the long longlist - I can't remember which. It's only been running for a couple of years, but people are talking very positively about it.

Is it related to the Cheshire prize for literature?

[InfiniteTeas]

No, it's a separate prize. It was set up by a writer called Sara Cox who wanted to do something that offered feedback to everyone, not just shortlisted writers. It's had a huge response and a number of success stories, and already seems to be well respected in the industry.

The Bath novel prize also has a good track-record in terms of winners/listed authors getting offers of rep/publishing deals. I know the organisers and it's very professionally run, and again, well respected.

The Lucy Cavendish prize has been going for a while and has a very good reputation. I think that leans towards the more literary end of the spectrum.

I'm not sure about others. I only entered the LC before I was repped and ineligible - and got precisely nowhere with a book that got me an agent and some editor interest!

[InfiniteTeas]

If you're on Twitter, have a look at entrants' comments re Cheshire feedback. It seems to be substantial and detailed - not just a couple of lines.

[Peasnbeans]

Hi all,
Sorry I disappeared, went away then caught the horrible virus that's circulating. Thanks for all replies - v useful.
Still off work but determined to send off to the Discoveries before deadline tonight.
I did Lucy Cavendish before, longlisted twice 18/19/20 but no more. Going to try again this year.
Bath - I never seem to be their flavour in either novel or short story.
Cheshire - definitely not seeking literary, and I was disappointed with the feedback I got as it turned my story into a thriller and changed the protagonist - major changes really. Probably won't enter again, I try to enter ones where the readers are making a living from editing and publishing, not because they enjoy reading a lot. And I'm not being weird here, I know two of their readers and was AMAZED they were asked.

[Bella43]

@Peasnbeans Well done on going for Discoveries! I sent mine off about a week ago having whipped up 10,000 words a bit quick so I could enter. I'm not sure if it's what they're after but I'm happy with what I've done and it makes a nice change from sending out the same historical fiction novel.

[Peasnbeans]

@Bella43 I haven't sent it off yet but I am sending new words so we'll see.
I haven't written a synopsis yet either - that's my job tonight!

[everythingcrossed]

Thanks @Peasnbeans - I got my entry in just in time.

[Peasnbeans]

Me too! With ten min to go!

Lucy Cav next, early Feb.

[BecauseOfIndia]

@Peasnbeans Totally agree about Cheshire, I entered in the first year and the feedback I got made no sense at all. I think they ask for volunteer readers on Twitter and then those people tick boxes to say that they are happy to read certain genres. It was clear from my feedback that many of those were not readers of literary fiction. It basically said that readers would be confused about whether some of my descriptions were literal or not (?). It also told me to add aspects that I felt would turn it into a thriller. I've not entered again since then but know a few people who have and it's always the same feedback - add drama, action etc...

Disappointing to know that being LL for Lucy Cavendish didn't get you an agent! I'm considering that again as I missed the deadline for Discoveries.

[Bella43]

@BecauseOfIndia Reading is so subjective. I had all different feedback on my writing when I was at university and after a while it got a little bit confusing. If one person loved a scene, another two didn't and vice versa. It often left me wondering what I should cut and keep. I guess it's all about finding that target reader.

[Bella43]

This looks good. I've always liked the idea of being published in The People's Friend 😊

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/creativewriting/4981183-the-peoples-friend-ps10k-writing-comp-for-new-authors

[Peasnbeans]

@Bella43 that does look interesting - may be worth a try.
Not sure of their target audience though, or whether I can even write suitable romance! 😁

[Hazelwood63]

Hello. May I join too? I'm interested to hear your experiences with the Cheshire Novel Prize, and have heard similar from other people. Personally, I found the feedback I received really encouraging, as I have never never had any luck whatsoever in any other competition, just the usual 'the standard was so high this year' response. In fact I've just received one of those from the Mslexia comp, and, very close to the end of a redraft of my novel, it has really knocked my confidence. Have literally just lost ALL faith in it. Even though I have a couple of agents waiting to read the full ...

[Hazelwood63]

And the irritating thing is, I'd forgotten all about the Mslexia comp, and had no expectation of being long listed but the bloody email has just pinged into my in box, and shot me down.

[Bella43]

Hello and welcome @Hazelwood63 The competitions knocked my confidence too. I had a break from them for a while and have now decided to get back on the horse so to speak. I'll only be entering a few of them. It's just nice to get my work out there and have an incentive to write.

[Bella43]

Will you be entering Cheshire Novel Prize this year?

[Hazelwood63]

Hi @Bella43 A good idea to have a break from competitions, I think, and you're right about getting the work out there. I'm planning on submitting to agents again in February/March so will see how I go before making a decision re the Cheshire Novel Prize this year. It's not so much missing the long list in these competitions that bothers me, it's the not knowing why. Although it seems a lot of people found the Cheshire feedback confusing and unhelpful. No, I'll probably just stick to the 'fun' of agent submissions from now on ... but wish you all the best for any competitions you decide to go for. Keep us posted!