Submission for the HNS UK 2024 First Chapters Competition has now closed.
The category shortlists will be announced on this website on 6 May.
Thank you for your entries! Our judges are busy reading.
We will contact all entrants by email before the shortlist announcement to let you know the outcome of your entry.
The HNS UK 2024 First Chapters Competition is for the first three chapters of a full-length historical novel that has not been previously published in any form. We are looking to recognise and promote excellence in storytelling and the craft of historical fiction. The competition coincides with the HNS UK 2024 conference and the overall winner will be announced at the conference.
Competition Prizes
The Overall Winner will receive £1,000, the competition trophy, and feedback from the three final judges. The winner will be announced at the Gala Dinner at the HNS UK 2024 conference on 7 September 2024.
The nine Category Winners will comprise the shortlist for the overall prize and will each receive £500 and an HNS UK 2024 conference ticket*. They will be recognised with Category Winner Certificates at the Gala Dinner at the HNS UK 2024 conference on 7 September 2024.
[*Conference tickets can be provided either onsite or online, whichever is preferred, although Category Winners are encouraged to attend the conference if you can.]
First and Second Round Assessors
The First Round judging will produce the Category Shortlists. The assessors are book reviewers for Historical Novels Review magazine.
Read more about the First Round assessors.
The Second Round judging will produce the Category winners. The assessors are book review editors for Historical Novels Review magazine.
Read more about the Second Round assessors.
Judges for the Overall Winner
The judges for the overall winner are agent and publisher, Lisa Highton; author and publisher, Jane Johnson; and author, Kate Quinn.
Read more about the judges for the overall winner.
Categories
The competition categories are:
Historical Fiction Ancient to 16th century
Historical Fiction 17th century to 19th century
Historical Fiction 20th century
Historical Romance
Historical Crime
Biographical Historical Fiction
Historical Adventure
Historical Fantasy, Timeslip, Alternate History
Children’s & Young Adult Historical Fiction
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Competition Timeline
15 Feb 2024 Competition closes 23.59 GMT
6 May 2024 The Category Short Lists are announced.
10 June 2024 The Category Winners and the Overall Short List are announced.
7 Sept 2024 The overall judges present prizes to the Category Winners and announce the Overall Winner at the HNS UK 2024 Conference Gala Dinner.
Contact
You can contact us regarding the competition on competition@hns2024.com
Competition Rules
Other Competitions
These other writing competitions may also be of interest to you.
The Historical Novel Society UK 2024 conference 