Flash 500 Novel Opening Competition. - 31st October Every Year

Have you started, or completed, a novel with strong, credible characters and a page turning plot? Have you honed the first chapter? Can you put together a compelling one page synopsis of the balance of the story? Yes? Then why not enter our Novel Opening Chapter competition and have your work judged by the senior editors at Crooked Cat Publishing? We welcome published, self-published and unpublished novelists. The only stipulation is that the entry must be unpublished.

We are looking for an opening chapter up to 3,000 words, plus a one page synopsis outlining the balance of the story. If your chapter is longer than 3,000 words, DO NOT SUBMIT A LONGER MANUSCRIPT. Simply close the entry within the 3,000 word limit and make a note at the end (which will not be included in the word count) stating the chapter continues beyond this point.

This is an annual competition: entries open on 1st May and close on 31st October.

Entry fee: £10

Optional Critique of Chapter and Synopsis: £25

Prizes will be awarded as follows:

First: £500

Runner up: £200

Payment options and entry instructions can be found on the

Novel Opening Chapter & Synopsis Competition Entry Page