This will be the contest’s fourth year. Start deciding which published book of yours you’re going submit!
What kind of contest is the 2022 novel opening contest?
This competition is open to anyone who has published a book (meaning you have an ISBN) before the contest deadline. You’ll be entering the first 1,000 words of your published book to compete against authors from all over the United States for the most compelling opening. This contest is open to authors from all genres (a nonfiction book placed last year). As long as you think you have an opening that will make the judges want to read more, you’ve got a shot at winning it all!
When does the contest open?
The Novel Opening contest starts at midnight on February 1st, 2022. At that point, the entry form will go live and you’ll be able to complete your submission and pay your entry fee.
How do I enter my book?
When the time comes, entering is simple. Head to the contests page and click the entry form link. Fill out some basic info about yourself, upload your excerpts, pay your entry fee, and you’re good to go!
How much money is involved in this contest?
First Place: $2,000 in cash and prizes. Cash prize minimum of $100.
Second Place: $1,000 in cash and prizes. Cash prize minimum of $50.
Third Place: $100 in cash and prizes. Cash prize minimum of $25.
The more authors who enter, the higher the cash prizes can get, up until 100% cash amounts of $2,000, $1,000, or $100! Remember that you can win more than one prize, or even all three. So that gives you the opportunity to win $3,100 cash.
Otherwise, whatever isn’t awarded in cash will be provided as a credit for one service from Volo Press Books on a single manuscript of 40,000 words or more. So, if you’d like developmental editing, copyediting, or even proofreading for your next book, you may even be able to get the service for free!
Does Writerwerx University have other contests?
All throughout the year! The Novel Opening contest takes place in February, then the Poetry contest is held in May, and the Short Story contest happens in August. You could theoretically place in all three contests in a single year (something that has yet to be accomplished)!
Why should I submit to a contest? What if I don’t win anything?
Submitting to contests is a good practice for a number of reasons.
- You gain connections and experience in the literary world. As you submit to various competitions, you start to get a feel for who’s in the industry, and get introduced to new authors, books, and even genres you’ve never heard of before.
- You can win recognition, even when you don’t win a top prize. Some contests have long lists of “honorable mentions” or similar consolations. This is something you can add to your resume, social media profile, or author website.
- You can win some money. While there aren’t many writing contests in the world that will allow you to buy a private island, you can find many contests that offer enough prize money to do things like pay a utility bill for a month, pay off your car, or even stock up on decent Christmas gifts for your family and friends.
- You can win some useful prizes. Beyond cash, there are some pretty valuable prizes that some writing contests offer. These might include things like connecting with a literary agent, getting feedback on your book from an editor to help strengthen your writing, or even getting direct assistance from literary professionals to polish your next piece.
- You get something interesting to announce. Being part of a contest adds to the list of things you get to tell your fans about. Even if you have only recently started your online author presence, there’s nothing wrong with starting with an announcement like “Just entered the 2022 Novel Opening contest (@writerwerxuniversity)! Wish me luck!”
As wonderful as winning a grand or top prize is, there is a lot more to gain from writing contests than just bragging rights.
To help you keep up with contest deadlines:
