Aspiring novelists are invited to enter a new competition to help get their books off the ground.
Writer and editor Sara Cox founded the Cheshire Novel Prize competition to help authors break into the publishing world.
The competition is designed for writers who have not yet found an agent or a publishing contract.
And while the competition welcomes entries from around the world, organizers are especially keen to hear from local Cheshire storytellers.
Sara said: “We know there are a lot of talented writers in and around Cheshire and it would be wonderful if some were to enter this new competition, which puts our region on the literary map.
“Trying to break into the publishing world can seem very intimidating, so I wanted to help by setting up a competition for unrepresented writers.
“We look forward to reading the fresh and exciting stories from the attendees.”
Registrations opened yesterday and will close at midnight on April 1, 2022. The winner will take home a top prize of £ 1,500.
Participants must send in the first 5,000 words of their book and an outline (synopsis) of the entire plot.
All entries will receive comments on their writing.
The competition jury is made up of six prestigious literary agents, writers and publishers from across the publishing industry.
Many writers from disadvantaged backgrounds will be able to register for free thanks to the generosity of the sponsors.
Ten percent of all entry fees will go to charities chosen by the judges.
For details on how to participate and write tips, visit CheshireNovelPrize.com.