Frequently
asked questions 

Main Prize

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Can a previously self-published author enter a new unpublished novel?

If I have had other forms of writing published, do I enter my novel as a published or unpublished author?

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I have written a novel that is signed to a crowdfunding publisher, am I published or unpublished?​

Can I resubmit my unpublished work if it didn't make the longlist last year?​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?

Does the publishing deal for the Unpublished Comedy Novel prize include representation from an agent, to help navigate legal implications?​

Are e-books and audio books eligible?​​

Is non-fiction eligible?​​

Are children’s books eligible?

​Are Young Adult books eligible?

Do you accept short stories?

Is the Published Category competition open to authors published in Ireland?

Is poetry accepted?

Are plays accepted?

Are second editions accepted?

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Can I pursue other publishing opportunities when I submit for the unpublished prize?

What happens if I get longlisted for my unpublished novel?​

If I’ve published a book in another format, such as audio, can I enter the unpublished category?

Are entries judged anonymously?

I am an agented author, can I enter if my novel(s) are unpublished?​

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Flash Fiction

Does my Flash Fiction title count towards the word count?

Are Flash Fiction entries judged anonymously?

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What are the rules around publication dates?

​Entries to the Published Comedy Novel Award must be published no earlier than 15 October 2022. There are no date restrictions around entries to the Unpublished Comedy Novel Award. Entries to the Self-Published/Hybrid Published Comedy Novel Award must be published no earlier than 24 May 2023.

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What is the closing date for entries?
The closing date for entries to all categories is 23 may 2025.

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Am I eligible to submit a self-published novel?

Yes! For 2025 we have introduced a self-published category in association with Atmosphere Press.  

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Can a previously self-published author enter a new unpublished novel?

Self-published authors are eligible to enter the unpublished category with a different unpublished novel, on the assumption that they have not previously been represented by a mainstream publisher for their work. Please refer to the Unpublished Comedy Novel prize category guidelines.   

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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, as well as self-published novels or non-fiction published then you are still eligible as an unpublished novelist.

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Are we allowed to enter more than one work by the same author?

Yes. 

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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, which is an acknowledged 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!

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Can I resubmit my unpublished work if it didn't make the longlist in the last prize?

If it is a novel and has been re-worked and now offers a very different content and feel, then please feel free to resubmit. 

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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 Self-Published/Hybrid Published Comedy Novel prize must be published in the english language. The competition is open to female authors, writing in the English language, of any nationality over the age of 18 on the closing date.

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​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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Do you accept short stories?

No, we are not accepting short stories for 2025. 

 
 

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.

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Is poetry accepted?

This year we can only accept full length comic novels. (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.

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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.

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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.

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If I win do I have to accept the prize?

Accepting the publishing offer 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 publicity package is condition of winning the Self-Published/Hybrid Published Comedy Novel prize; acknowledgement of this is given when the writer submits their entry.

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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.   

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What happens if I get longlisted for my unpublished novel?

You will be notified by CWIP in June 2025 and be required to send in full manuscript before 4 July 2025. Just to be clear do have your manuscript ready!

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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.

 
 

Are entries judged anonymously? 
In the initial judging round of the unpublished novel prize, to formulate the longlist, 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.

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Does my Flash Fiction title count towards the word count?
No, Flash Fiction titles are not included in the word count. 

 
 

Are Flash Fiction entries judged anonymously? 
Yes, all entries are judged blind and only identified by an ID number. There is no need to include your name on your entry; any entries with names on them will be fully anonymised by the administration team prior to judging. 

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