Frequently Asked Questions

Our guidelines state that entries must not be "created using any artificial intelligence or other similar technology." In the context of this competition, we define "creation" as the act of making specific stylistic and linguistic choices that form the manuscript. This includes line-level editing and rephrasing, which we consider essential parts of the creative process and the author's unique voice.

Even if AI is used for editorial feedback rather than plot generation, any tool that suggests or implements changes to your prose—such as altering sentence structure, word choice, or rhythm—falls under the category of AI-assisted creation. To ensure a level playing field for all entrants, we require that the final prose be 100% human-authored.

To maintain your eligibility, we recommend the following:

• Revert to Human-Only Prose: Please ensure the manuscript you submit contains only your original wording. If you have accepted specific phrasing or line-edits generated by an AI, these should be rewritten in your own words before submission.

• Permitted Tools: Standard non-generative tools such as basic spellcheck and grammar fixers (similar to the standard features in Microsoft Word) are acceptable. However, generative "rewrite" or "refine" features are not.

Every writer who enters the Cheshire Novel Prize will receive a few lines of feedback. The rest is generic and is clearly labelled as such. You will receive a paragraph or two of specific, actionable feedback and about 2-3 pages minimum of generic feedback although we usually give more. We send feedback after the winner has been announced and this usually takes around two months due to the amount of entries. The end date for this is in our rules of entry. The written feedback outlines what we liked about your entry and why you have not made the long-list on this occasion. Please bear with us in terms of timelines on this. We will be as quick as we can, but a quick turnaround will be dependant on the number of entries we receive.

Writers making the longlist but not the shortlist, will receive a couple of written sentences of feedback from each of our judges. Writers making the shortlist, but not winning either first prize or highly commended, will each receive written feedback from our judges. Please note, CNP nor the judges can not enter into any correspondence about the feedback given. The feedback is intended to help you to understand why on this occasion your novel did not go forward to either the longlist, shortlist or go on to win the competition.

Our feedback highlights specific areas you may need to look at and provides general guidelines around how you could improve your novel. With the amount of entrants we are hoping to attract, it is impossible to provide line edits, specific areas in the manuscript where these points may apply, or in-depth feedback. The cost of our entry fee covers administration, prize money, judging panel, agent showcase and readers and editors to collate feedback. Therefore this is a great opportunity to receive feedback on your opening chapters which is included in your entry fee of £29.00. Please understand that all feedback is subjective and our opinions may not be the same as other literary prizes/agents/literary consultancies and for this reason, we cannot enter into any correspondence or respond to specific questions about your feedback unless you don’t receive it. If you don’t receive the feedback by 30th December 2024, please email us at entry@cheshirenovelprize.com

No, we’re sorry. Unfortunately this competition is not open to short stories or novellas- only novels of a minimum word count of 60,000 words.

500 word synopsis please, 1.5 spaced and sized twelve font. Please include your plot spoilers in your synopsis. Your synopsis will not be published at any time.

Take a look at our Writing Tips page for handy hints on how to write a synopsis. There is no fixed format for the synopsis - this is left to the discretion of the writer.

No. The title is for administration purposes only.

Should you be longlisted you will have the opportunity to amend the title if you want to.

As we have a team of readers, we need to ensure that every entry is anonymous. Please only include your name on the email header: Name of book, genre, and author name.

Your name should not appear anywhere in the main body of the work or in the synopsis. Pages should be numbered and the title of the book on a header or footer on each page.

Please remember to include page numbers!

It’s worth trying another internet browser e.g. Chrome or Firefox.

You’ll get an automated “thank-you for your entry” email and a receipt from our card platform, ‘Stripe.’ It may be worth checking your junk folder for the receipt if you don’t get it immediately and adding us to your trusted sender list. If you have any concerns, please do get in touch at entry@cheshirenovelprize.com All entry fees need to be received by 12 (midnight) on 1st May 2024.

Yes, as long as the novel is complete and at least 60,000 words in length. However each entry costs £29.00 per entry and you will need a unique entry ID for each novel submitted.

No problem, we don’t use PayPal. We ask you to pay via debit or credit card, simply follow the instructions on our submission page. We use Stripe as a card payment processor which is 3D authenticated and a third party provider.

Yes – it is possible to pay via bank transfer. Please send a short email to entry@cheshirenovelprize.com and we will send you the necessary payment information.

Please note that the entry fee must be received BEFORE the deadline, for the entry to be considered, so please allow time for your payment to be received and clear.

Don’t worry, we collect information about your submission separately to your repayment details. We then match up your payment to your entry using your Entry ID, so the name on your card really doesn’t affect your submission.

Please send an email to entry@cheshirenovelprize.com and we will send you further information for email submissions.

This information must be added to the entry form (both your legal name and your pen name) and you are welcome to use your pen name on your entry if you wish, this is optional.

Yes but all entries must be in English.

Yes.

Yes as long as you are un-agented at the time of entry.

Yes, that is fine. If you win another competition before our winner is announced, please let us know.

Yes, we actually do not accept PDF or pages, so please do submit using a word document.

Please use font size 12 and line spacing of 1.5.

Please ensure youa re formatting a word document and that you are only sending us 5000 words and a 500 word synopsis pasted in the same document. Please ensure you have no graphics or photographs or artwork on your entry as we cannot accept these. Usually this is the main reason why it won’t upload. Please send an email to entry@cheshirenovelprize.com

We require writers to have finished their novel by the closing date of 1st July 2026.

To apply, please select the complete the ‘Sponsored Entry’ online application form. You must submit your entry within 24 hours of receiving the code, otherwise the code will no longer work and you cannot reapply. This is due to the system only generating one code per person. You can only apply for one sponsored place for each year for one novel

Check our criteria on rules of entry. We will confirm via email if you have been successful or not. If successful, you will receive a unique code to enter. All details will be kept confidential. Please note that we use an external company to approve these to protect your identity. Unfortunately we cannot enter into any correspondence about your application. Usually we find the main reasons that applications are refused is because you do not meet the criteria. You can find this at the bottom of our ‘About Us’ page.

Please get in touch - email: entry@cheshirenovelprize.com

Check your spam/junk folder for the email that contains your Unique ID number. The process is automated, so if your payment went through then you will have received the email. You can also go to the submission’s page and click ot enter. It will ask you to purchase an ID or you can click on Find my Id, and it will generate it for you. Please check your accounts to make sure the payment has been made before contacting us but please feel free to contact us if you can’t find it in the way suggested above.

Once you have entered the prize, we can’t replace or change the extract. Your work will be assigned and read immediately, so please make sure you are happy with it before you click on ‘submit’. If you have mistakenly added in the wrong genre, please email us before the closing dat of 1st July 2026 and we will change it. If you want to withdraw your entry, and resubmit, then you will need to obtain a new Unique ID number.

If you realise you have made a technical error (perhaps submitted the wrong document, not anonymised your work etc) then there is a small window of opportunity for you to contact us. We will do our best to respond and help you rectify any issues, if you contact us within 48 hours of your original submission at the email address entry@cheshirenovelprize.com

Once you have paid for a Unique ID number, we cannot refund any entry money for any reason. This is because our card platform charges us fees and your entry is read very quickly after you have submitted.