It’s time to get creative – and seeing your work is one of the highlights of our year. That’s right – the prestigious Grazia and Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction First Chapter competition, now in its sixth year, is open for entries again.
Helping us in our quest to find a new female writing star is Marian Keyes, author of 13 acclaimed novels and four non- fiction books (most recently The Woman Who Stole My Life). Marian has written the opening paragraph of a story – and we’re challenging you to finish the first chapter. The sky is the limit when it comes to your inspiration, just remember to keep your chapter within the 800 to 1,000 word limit, and send it to us by Friday 6 May.
The winner will join us at the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction prestigious awards ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall on London’s South Bank on Wednesday 8 June, where they’ll be presented with their £1,000 prize and have their talent flagged up to the biggest names in literature. So, what’s stopping you? Time to put pen to paper...
The Story So Far
Marian Keyes has started the story entitled The Host – now it’s up to you to finish the chapter...
The doorbell rang and Sarah decided to not answer. Nick had only just left, she’d had enough drama for one evening. But when it rang again Sarah took a sneaky peek through the living room curtains and was shocked to see Nick’s wife, Jess. What the hell!
For a moment she contemplated pretending none of this was happening, but that wasn’t the person she was, so she went down the hall and opened up.
‘Nick doesn’t know I’m here.’ Jess’s face was distorted with fear. ‘But I needed to see...’ She gazed at Sarah’s clearly pregnant stomach and she wept.
How to Enter
Following Marian Keyes’ lead, write your first chapter in 800 to 1,000 words. Also supply a short autobiography (maximum 200 words) and a passport photo attached to a sheet of A4 paper, your full name, address, mobile phone number, occupation and date of birth.
Read our terms and conditions, then send your entry by Friday 6 May to Emily Phillips, Grazia, Endeavour House, 189 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8JG or email us at firstchapter@graziamagazine.co.uk by Friday 6 May.
What You’ll Win
The winner will receive £1,000 and have their chapter published in Grazia. They will also attend the ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall on Wednesday 8 June to pick up their award on-stage (travel for two is included). They will also win a luxurious overnight stay with breakfast at Rosewood London for two people.
Two runners-up will have their chapters published on graziadaily.co.uk. All three winners will receive the six Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction 2016 shortlisted books.
For more information on the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction, go to womensprizeforfiction.co.ukor search #baileysprize on Twitter.