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  CROCUS FIRST THREE CHAPTERS COMPETITION

  North West 'First Three Chapters' Competition 2008

  Win £250 & have your fledgling novel 'hothoused' by Crocus Books

  The search is on to find the best budding novellist in the North West in our latest competition for long fiction writers.

  This time we are searching for the best three opening chapters from a previously unpublished novelist.

  The winner will get £250 and their own writing mentor to help them get their novel completed.

  Six other promising novelists identified through the competition will be provided with significant assistance with their novel.

  The competition welcomes submissions in any genre except children's fiction from all writers living or working in the North West. It's very difficult for new writers to get their first novel published - this competition provides a rare break for fledgling writers.

  By running this competition, Commonword hopes to assist new novelists in avoiding the frustration and pitfalls that come with developing a first novel.

  Crocus have already launched the careers of several North West based authors, including Cath Staincliffe, Sherry Ashworth and Mike Duff. The last novel competition winner, David Evans, praised the competition for helping him achieve a life long ambition. His novel, A Touch of the Sun, a personal and political coming of age novel set in apartheid South Africa, was published to much acclaim.

  How the Competition Works

  Entrants should send a two page synopsis (comprising a story outline and details of main characters and themes) plus the first three chapters or fifty pages (whichever is the shorter) of their novel. Novels can be on any theme and in any genre except children's fiction. We may run a children's fiction competition at a later date.

  The winner and six other authors will be offered the chance to work on their novels with the assistance of a writing mentor/editor.

  Judging Process

  Initial longlisting will be done by Crocus editors. Shortlisting and final selection will be done by guest judges.

  Prizes

  The winner will receive £250 and the services of a mentor/editor. The six runners-up will receive the services of a mentor/editor.

  Deadline for entries: 30 September 2008

  How to enter

  It costs £15 (waged) or £10 (unwaged) to enter the competition. For further details and an entry form please send an SAE to: Crocus First Three Chapters Competition, Commonword, 6 Mount Street, Manchester M2 5NS

  or visit: http://www.commonword.org.uk/subsection.asp?section_id=3&idno=35