When is the deadline for entries?

The deadline is 5pm (UK time) on Friday 25 February 2011. However, we are only accepting 20,000 submissions this year, so will close the competition when we receive our 20,000th entry (whether this happens on 25 February or next week).  

Join our Facebook group for regular updates on entries received and to make sure your manuscript is among that 20,000!

Why only 20,000?

For the first ever Brit Writers' Awards Unpublished (2010), we were inundated with more than 21,000 entries. Which was fantastic. But to give our judges time to read them all and to give each manuscript due consideration, we had to push back the ceremony date and delay announcing the shortlists.

While people were patient and supportive of our decisions (thank you), we are determined that BWA Unpublished 2011 will be smoother and easier for everyone involved. By capping the submissions at 20,000 we know what to expect and can deploy the right people and resources at the right time.

How much does it cost to enter the Brit Writers' Awards?

To enter your work into the Brit Writers' Awards, you need to be signed up as a full BWA member, which costs £10.95 (including VAT), or you need to be part of a BWA member school, business or community organisation (see below).

For your £10.95, you may submit a maximum of three entries. You are allowed to submit more than three, but you will need to pay £10.95 for every three additional entries you send in.

I was a BWA member last year. Do I need to pay again?

If you were a BWA member in 2010, your login details haven't changed. You will just need to pay another £10.95 to submit your work this year.

Why only three entries? Has this changed since BWA 2010?

For BWA 2010, individuals could submit an unlimited number of entries for a one-off fee. Please note that we have changed the rules on this; now you may submit a maximum of three per £10.95.

This is because we are only accepting 20,000 entries and we want to give as many people as possible the chance to enter. We also want to encourage people to send in their best work, rather than everything they have ever written!

Please note that you may submit as many entries as you wish, but you will need to pay £10.95 for every three entries.

How do I submit my entry if my company or community organisation is a BWA member?

If your community organisation or company is a BWA member, then we have good news for you: submitting your entries will cost you nothing – and you can submit up to three per person.

All you need to do is find out your organisation's unique BWA membership number and enter it when you sign up on the BWA website.

The person in charge of the BWA programme within your organisation will be able to give you the membership number.

If you want to submit more than three entries, you will need to sign up as an individual member and pay £10.95 for every three subsequent submissions.

How do I submit my entry if my school is a BWA member?

If your school is a BWA member, then you may wish to organise a school-wide mini BWA competition. The best entries from your school will automatically progress to the shortlist of entries to be considered by our judges.

To find out more about your school's internal competition, you will need to speak to the person in charge of the BWA programme within your school.

Your school's BWA membership also entitles all staff and parents to submit up to three entries per individual, completely free of charge. All you need to do to declare your association to the school is find out your school's unique BWA membership number and enter it when you sign up on the BWA website.

The person in charge of the BWA programme within your school will be able to give you the membership number.

What if I've submitted my entry but need to go back and edit it?

Please give yourself plenty of time to read, proofread and edit your work – and don't submit anything until you're completely happy with it to help to avoid this situation.

We have introduced a secure admin page, which will enable you to access and delete any entry that you have previously submitted and to upload a replacement – as long as it is before Friday 25 February 2011. You can access this section by clicking on My Account in the top right-hand corner of the screen.

Please note that if you decide not to upload a replacement or edited entry, your one-off admin fee will not be refunded.

How do I write my novel synopsis?

We know many authors hate writing synopses for their novels! To make life easier, we've written a clear and friendly guide to show you what our judges expect from you.

To access the guide, make sure you are signed in to the Brit Writers website. Then you can download the guide here (a PDF will open in a new window) or find it on our page of writing tips.

Can I enter the competition if I have self-published a novel?

Yes. If you are a self-published author, simply follow the usual rules for the competition and also send two copies of your published manuscript to:

Brit Writers
Self-Published Entries
63-65 Rea Street
Birmingham
West Midlands
B5 6BB.

I notice there's a category for published writers. How do I enter it?

Entries for the Published Writer of the Year award can only be made by publishers. If you are a published writer or a literary agent, you should encourage your publisher to act on your behalf.

The Published Writer of the Year award will only be awarded to the writers of novels printed by established publishing houses. No self-published work may be submitted.

To nominate work to be considered in this category, publishers must submit novels from three different authors. They must be in English and have been published (or will be published) within 24 months either side of Friday 25 February 2011. For more information about the entry process and judging, please see our Judging criteria for entries. 

Can I submit illustrations with my entry?

You may only submit illustrations with your work if you have written a children's story based around illustrations; where pictures are required in order to understand the story. Alternatively, a description of the illustrations can be given alongside your story.

It is worth remembering that the Brit Writers judges will be judging your writing and not your illustrations, so we don't recommend submitting work which relies heavily on pictures.

Do I retain copyright?

Yes, you retain copyright of your work but, in submitting your entry, you give permission for the BWA to publicise and promote your work if appropriate.

If I've had a novel published, can I enter the songwriting category?

Sorry, no. The Brit Writers' Awards aim to give completely unpublished writers and self-published authors a chance to shine – whether they're songwriters, novelists or poets (or all three!).

If your book was published within the last 24 months, you may wish to ask your publisher to nominate you for the Published Writer of the Year category.

I'm under 16. Can I enter categories other than songwriting, poems or short stories?

Sorry, no. This year, people ahed 16 and under can only enter those three categories.

Can I enter the same story into two different categories? For example, the novel and children's story categories?

Yes - you can enter the same piece into different categories if relevant.

Is there a word limit for stories for children?

No, there is not a word limit for this category.

If my story for children is the length of a novel, do I need to submit a synopsis and sample chapters?

Yes, if the story is the length of a novel then you need to follow the same entry instructions as for novels (that is, you need to submit a synopsis and three sample chapters).

To access our guide to writing a synopsis, make sure you are signed in to the Brit Writers website. Then you can download the guide here (a PDF will open in a new window) or find it on our page of writing tips.

What constitutes a story for children - does it need to be aimed at a specific age group?

Stories for children are aimed at readers who are under 16.

What type of entry does the non-fiction category include and what are the word limits for different non-fiction pieces?

The non-fiction category is wide ranging and includes journalism, academic reports, theses, memoirs and biographies. In 2010 one of the shortlisted entrants had submitted a recipe book!

If your document is more than 5,000 words long, then three sample chapters / sections or approximately 10 per cent of the manuscipt (whichever is greater) is required - as well as a synopsis.

Find the answers to other frequently asked questions.