The winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize, a place on our flagship three-month online Writing Your Novel course, two editorial mentoring sessions with a Headline Eternal editor, an introductory meeting with Curtis Brown literary agent Sheila Crowley and a hamper of Headline Eternal romance books. There are also prizes up for grabs to be be awarded to two runners-up.
The competition welcomes romantic fiction across genres, including romantic comedy, romantic drama and romantasy. The novel must be for adults and fit into the category of commercial fiction i.e. a compelling plot, memorable characters, snappy dialogue and, of course, no shortage of romance.
Novels do not have to be finished; judges are looking for brilliant voices, strong concepts and a compelling romance that takes centre stage. The judging panel comprises Soraya Bouazzaoui, senior commissioning editor at Headline Eternal, Abby Parsons, senior courses manager and editor at CBC, authors Rufaro Faith Mazarura and Maame Blue, Caden Armstrong, founder of Book Lovers Bookshop, and Amy Beecham, books editor at Stylist magazine.
