How do I make my entry stand out?

    Take a look at our opening pages resource pack which will provide guidance on writing a winning opening page. This is available for free in the Jericho Writers Vault (you need to create a free account in order to access)

What format should my entry be?

500 words in an easy to read font such as Times New Roman, ideally double spaced. You can submit either a word document or a PDF. 

Does it have to be from the opening of my novel?

Yes, it should be your opening 500 words. If you have a prologue, it should be the first 500 words of that prologue. When it comes to prologues, we always advise that if it’s not strong enough to enter into a competition and you’d rather enter Chapter One, you should consider whether you need the prologue at all.

What genres are suitable? Can I enter with a memoir or non fiction title?

Yes, we will accept entries from all genres including memoir, non-fiction and children’s.

How does the judging process work?

The Jericho Writers team will judge all entries anonymously, reading the 500 words only with no identifiers. We’ll be judging based on the following criteria:

• Does this opening grab me?

• Does this opening make me want to read on?

• Is this opening well written?

• Does this opening set the scene and introduce us to the protagonist, without info-dumping?

    The shortlist will be decided according to who has the most ‘yes’ votes.