Novel Opening and Synopsis Competition
Have you started, or completed, a novel with strong, credible characters and a page turning plot? Have you honed the first chapters? Can you put together a compelling synopsis? Yes? Then why not enter our Novel Opening competition? We welcome published, self-published and unpublished novelists. The only stipulation is that the entry must be unpublished.
Prizes will be awarded as follows:
- First: £500
- Second: £200
Flash500 is looking for a novel opening up to 3000 words, plus a synopsis of the story (max 750 words) to be submitted together in a single file. If your first chapter is longer than 3000 words, DO NOT SUBMIT A LONGER MANUSCRIPT. Simply close the entry within the 3000 word limit and make a note at the end (which will not be included in the word count) stating the chapter continues beyond this point.
Entry fee:
- £10 for one novel
- £18 for two novels
- £26 for three novels
Optional critique of Entry and Synopsis: £35 per story
This is an annual competition: entries close 31st October 2026.