FIRST CHAPTER COMPETITION

Send the opening chapter of your novel to win feedback from top publishing industry professionals. Extra benefit added to the prize this year: a 30-minute Zoom meeting with our literary agent judge!

2024 Judge - Eli Keren

Eli Keren is a literary agent at United Agents in London. See his full profile on the agency website here.

Eli Keren started his publishing career at Curtis Brown before joining United Agents as an assistant in 2016. In 2021 he became an associate literary agent, representing a growing list of clients across fiction and non-fiction, actively seeking books that are going to make a positive impact in the world in some way, big or small. Before working in books, Eli was a research scientist designing and synthesising novel drugs (white coat and everything), and science books remain a particular passion of his. He is also very interested in LGBT-themed books in both fiction and non-fiction. In 2023 he was elected treasurer of the Association of Authors’ Agents.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS CONTEST IS FOR YA AND ADULT FICTION NOVELS ONLY. WE DO NOT ACCEPT SUBMISSIONS OF CHILDREN’S NOVELS.


FIRST PRIZE
Submission package (cover letter, synopsis and first three chapters) review and written feedback from Eli Keren and a 30-minute Zoom meeting to discuss your work.

SECOND PRIZE

Feedback on first three chapters from Amanda Saint, author, creative writing tutor and publisher at Retreat West Books (winner Most Innovative Publisher 2020 Saboteur Awards).

SHORTLISTED
Short feedback from Eli Karen on the first chapter he reads during the judging process. This is provided in the blog announcing the results.

Deadline: 28th January 2024

Entry fee: £10 or £50 with detailed feedback on the first chapter you submit

See full contest T&Cs here: https://www.retreatwest.co.uk/competitions/first-chapter/