The First Pages Prize is open for submissions for the first five pages (1,250 words maximum) of a longer work of fiction or creative non-fiction.

Three winners each receive partial developmental editing to support the completion of their manuscript and cash awards of US$1,000 for 1st place, US$750 for 2nd, and US$500 for 3rd. 

In addition, the 1st and 2nd place winners are invited to attend the ‘Main Program‘ of the 2019 Stockholm Writers‘ Festival with accommodation offered and a stipend dependent on geography to assist with travel to Stockholm, Sweden (from 1000SEK within Sweden to 9500SEK for travel from beyond Nth America/Middle East).

Open worldwide, the competition is for writers who are currently unagented, whether previously published or unpublished, or previously agented or not. 

Entries must be unpublished, original and written in English. Translated works are not eligible.

This year’s judge is award-winning author, Paul McVeigh. Prizes are supported by The de Groot Foundation and Stockholm Writers‘ Festival.

Regardless of genre, entries will be judged on overall craftsmanship, originality and a sense of story emerging. Our selection committee should be compelled to read more. We adhere to the CLMP Contest Code of Ethics. See our guidelines, rules and mechanics of our selection process here and here.

Entries close February 3, 2019 and winners are notified by or before March 23, 2019. Prize presentation will be on May 3, 2019 during the Stockholm Writers’ Festival. For full information about SWF and the prize, visit https://stockholmwritersfestival.com or enter here atSubmittable https://stockholmwritersfestival.submittable.com/submit 

*** Registered attendees of the Stockholm Writers’ Festival may submit one entry for free via the special link sent after ticket purchase.

Happy writing and we look forward to reading your first five pages!