The Chapter One Prize is open to writers over 18 who are working on an as-yet-unpublished novel. The prize has been established to support and celebrate novelists. This prize aims to find the best opening chapter of a novel-in-progress written in the English language. On March 15, 2021, the three prize winners and honorable mentions will be announced here on the website and via social media, and all entrants will be contacted via email about the results. Prize winners will have the option of showcasing their Chapter One Prize entries on this website.

Source: Chapter One Prize

If you have a novel in progress, this competition looks interesting. Submit your first chapter by the end of the month with an entry fee of $20 and you might win a prize and have your work featured on the Gutsy Great Novelist website.

A lot of people avoid competitions with entry fees. I don’t because the fees are a fair way of raising the prize money. If you win, you enhance your online presence. If you don’t, you’ll probably have a nicely polished first chapter.

I’m planning to send in the first chapter of my novel in progress even though my chapters are very short (Dan Brown length).

Make sure you check the formatting requirements carefully.

—Malcolm

My novel in progress is a sequel to “The Sun Singer” and “Sarabande” called “Weeping Wall.”