You know what they say, Behind every female comedy author
stands a man... Sulking
Entry Form for unpublished Writers
Entry Form for unpublished Writers
Frequently
asked questions
Ask away...
We're all ears!
What are the rules around publication dates?
What is the closing date for entries?
Am I eligible to submit a self-published novel?
Can a previously self-published author enter a new unpublished novel?
Are we allowed to enter more than one work by the same author?
I have written a novel that is signed to a crowdfunding publisher, am I published or unpublished?
Can I resubmit my unpublished work if it didn't make the longlist last year?
Is the competition only open to residents of the UK and Ireland?
Am I able to enter from the Channel Islands?
Are e-books and audio books eligible?
Are children’s books eligible?
Are Young Adult books eligible?
Is the Published Category competition open to authors published in Ireland?
If I win do I have to accept the prize?
Can I pursue other publishing opportunities when I submit for the unpublished prize?
What happens if I get longlisted for my unpublished novel?
If I’ve published a book in another format, such as audio, can I enter the unpublished category?
If I’ve published my short story in another format, such as a magazine, blog or social storytelling site, can I enter it into the short story category?
If I am a published author (including self-published), am I eligible to enter the short story prize?
Are entries judged anonymously?
I am an agented author, can I enter if my novel(s) are unpublished?
What are the rules around publication dates?
Entries to the Published Comedy Novel Award must be published no earlier than 29 May 2021. There are no date restrictions around entries to the Unpublished Comedy Novel Award. Entries to the Comedy Short Story Award may be unpublished or have been recently published in the 18 months prior to the closing date of the award.
What is the closing date for entries?
The closing date for entries to all categories is 14 October 2022.
Am I eligible to submit a self-published novel?
CWIP recognises how valuable self-published novels are as a category. With Publisher’s generous offer to the winner, we are working with the two categories of published and unpublished. We hope to expand in future years to either incorporate self-published with the Published Comedy Novel category or create a new category. This is a great area – and we are determined to expand the prize in future years - so watch this space!
Can a previously self-published author enter a new unpublished novel?
If an author has previously self-published work, but has never had representation by a mainstream publisher, then they are eligible to enter a new current work that is as yet unpublished. Please refer to the Unpublished Comedy Novel prize category guidelines.
If I have had other forms of writing published, do I enter my novel as a published or unpublished author?
If you have not previously published a novel then you are eligible to enter the Unpublished Comedy Novel prize category. If you have had articles, academic papers, plays, short stories, poetry or non-fiction published then you are still eligible as an unpublished novelist.
Are we allowed to enter more than one work by the same author?
Yes. In the case of the Comedy Short Story category, you submit up to two short stories of your own.
I have written a novel that is signed to a crowdfunding publisher, am I published or unpublished?
If you are already signed to a crowdfunding publisher, you are not eligible to enter the Unpublished Comedy Novel prize. But please do enter it in the future once you have reached publication!
Can I resubmit my unpublished work if it didn't make the longlist last year?
If it is a novel and has been substantially re-worked and now offers a very different content and feel, then please feel free to resubmit. If it is a short story, it is not eligible for re-submission.
Is the competition only open to residents of the UK and Ireland?
Entrants for the Unpublished Comedy Novel prize have to reside in the UK or Ireland. Entrants for the Published Comedy Novel prize do not have to reside in the UK or Ireland, but the novel must be published in the UK or Ireland. Entrants for the Comedy Short Story prize may reside anywhere in the world. The competition is open to female authors, writing in the English language, of any nationality over the age of 18 on the closing date.
Am I able to enter from the Channel Islands?
Yes, we accept entries from the Channel Islands.
Does the publishing deal for the Unpublished Comedy Novel prize include representation from an agent, to help navigate legal implications?
Agent representation is not yet included in the publishing deal.
Are e-books and audio books eligible?
We are sorry that we cannot accept e-books and audio-books this year. We hope to be able to open up more categories in future years.
Is non-fiction eligible?
All works entered this year must be fiction. We hope to be able to extend our reach in future years to non-fiction, but this year only works of fiction are eligible.
Are children’s books eligible?
If your children's book is also suitable for adult readers and is a full length comic novel it is eligible. (See guidelines for each prize for page/word length.) Please note that it will be judged by adult readers as a book for adult readers. You may therefore wish to consider alternative prizes specifically for children's books.
Are Young Adult books eligible?
If your Young Adult book is also suitable for adult readers and is a full length comic novel it is eligible. (See guidelines for each prize for page/word length.) Please note that it will be judged by adult readers as a book for adult readers. You may therefore wish to consider alternative prizes specifically for YA books.
Do you accept short stories?
Yes, this year short stories are eligible! Please refer to the Comedy Short Story prize category guidelines. Short story entries can be both unpublished or recently published in magazines, published anthologies, blogs or other platforms within the 18 months prior to the closing date for entries of 14 October 2022.
Is the Published Category competition open to authors published in Ireland?
Since 2021, authors in the Published Novel category must have their books published in the UK or Ireland.
Is poetry accepted?
This year we can only accept full length comic novels or short stories. (See guidelines in each category for page/word length.) In the future we hope to be able to accept a wider variety of writing forms. Please follow us on social media for announcements.
Are plays accepted?
Plays are not eligible this year. In the future we hope to be able to accept a wider variety of writing forms. Please follow us on social media for announcements.
Are second editions accepted?
If a novel has been significantly reworked and republished within the time-frame it will be considered as a new novel rather than a second edition and is therefore eligible for the Published Comedy Novel even if the title remains unchanged. Second editions that have received only minor changes or a new cover will not be eligible.
If I win do I have to accept the prize?
Accepting the publishing offer from HarperCollins is a condition of winning the Unpublished Comedy Novel prize. Acknowledgement of this must be given at the longlist stage, when the writer submits their full manuscript. Accepting the publishing offer from Farrago is a condition of being shortlisted for the Comedy Short Story Prize. Acknowledgement of this is given when the writer submits their entry.
Can I pursue other publishing opportunities when I submit for the unpublished prize?
If a title is longlisted for the Unpublished Comedy Novel prize, and the full novel is requested, then it becomes held by the Prize until it is no longer in consideration. While held by the Prize the author cannot accept an alternative publishing deal. Once released by the Prize, the author can once again seek other publishing opportunities.
What happens if I get longlisted for my unpublished novel?
You will be notified by CWIP in November 2022 and be required to send in full manuscript before 2 December 2022. Just to be clear do have your manuscript ready!
If I’ve published a book in another format, such as audio, can I enter the unpublished category?
Unfortunately, you cannot be previously published in any format - physical, ebook or audio - to enter the Unpublished Comedy Novel prize category.
If I’ve published my short story in another format, such as a magazine, blog or social storytelling site, can I enter it into the short story category?
Recently published short stories are accepted, provided they were published elsewhere no more than 18 months prior to the closing date for the Comedy Short Story prize of 14 October 2022, and provided that the author can grant non-exclusive worldwide English-language permission for usage of the story in the anthology of witty women’s writing resulting from this competition, to be published by Farrago in association with CWIP. (‘Non-exclusive’ means that the author is free to publish the story elsewhere also at any time.)
If I am a published author (including self-published), am I eligible to enter the short story prize?
Yes, the short story prize is open to unpublished and published writers.
Are entries judged anonymously?
In the initial judging round of the short story and unpublished novel prizes, to formulate the longlists, entries are all judged blind and only identified by an ID number.
I am an agented author, can I enter if my novel(s) are unpublished?
Yes as long as the work has not been published.