Novel Fair
2024 marks 12 years of Novel Fair. Described by The Irish Times as a 'Dragon's Den for writers', the Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair is a literary competition which aims to introduce unpublished and unsigned novelists to top publishers and literary agents.
Interested in entering Novel Fair this September? Attend the online launch event of Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair 2025 on Wednesday 24 April, 2024. Tune in to this panel discussion to learn first-hand experiences of the Novel Fair journey. The discussion will also provide insider tips on how writers might prepare their submissions ahead of the Novel Fair deadline (30 September, 2024) and ways to catch the attention of a Novel Fair judge.
Attend online launchNovel Fair
Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair 2025 is a literary competition that awards twelve first-time novelists to sit down and pitch their novels to leading publishers and agents. Described by The Irish Times as ‘A Dragons’ Den for writers,’ Novel Fair winners gain access to a two-day speed dating style event (one day in-person and one day online) where they will bypass the slush pile and place their manuscripts directly into the hands of industry professionals. Some winners have even gone on to sign contracts with literary agents and publishers.
We all know that the path to publication can feel bewildering and mysterious. The Novel Fair mission is to facilitate first encounters between unpublished (and unsigned) novelists and members of the publishing industry. These encounters will take the form of a series of 15-minute meetings with publishers and agents where the 12 winners are given the opportunity to pitch their novels.
As a first-time novelist it can be difficult to know what an agent or publisher wants. In preparation for Novel Fair, winners will participate in a half-day workshop where they will learn how to craft the ideal pitch and what to expect from their encounters at Novel Fair. The workshop will be facilitated by the Novel Fair judges and a previous Novel Fair winner.
Novel Fair has been attended by representatives from: Curtis Brown, Penguin Random House, Conville & Walsh, époque, Fletcher & Co, Poolbeg Press, Harper Collins, John Murray, Hachette, Lilliput Press, New Island Books, The Book Bureau, The Bent Agency, Greene & Heaton, Storyline Literary Agency and many others.
Selecting the winners
- The competition opens each year in September when first-time novelists can submit a 10,000 word novel sample and a project synopsis
- Your submission is blind read and selected by our judging panel. Last year’s judges were Sharmilla Beezmohun, Eoin McHugh, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne and Susan Tomaselli
- The 12 Novel Fair winners will need to prove they have a full novel (of a minimum of 50,000 words) to gain access to the two-day event (Novel Fair)
- Applicants who are longlisted and who do not proceed to make the shortlist of twelve winners will receive a short critique of their work by the judging panel.
For full details see How to Apply section and terms and conditions below.
Application Process
How can I enter Novel Fair 2024?
- The submission period runs from 1st – 30th September 2024.
- Entry fee for applications is €55*. (Members of the Irish Writers Centre can enter for a discounted fee of €45)
- This competition only accepts manuscripts for novels. Memoirs, short stories and works of non-fiction will not be considered.
- There is no limitation on genre, or target market, for the novel. The only requirement being that the writer has not published a novel before i.e. has not previously published a novel with an ISBN (see Terms & Conditions for exceptions and more detailed information on eligibility)
- Applicants are required to send a project synopsis of max. 300 words (+/- 10%) and up to 10,000 words of their novel (+/-10%).
- You will be asked to submit your manuscript online via Submittable.
- There is a limit of one entry per applicant per a year.
*Each year, we have 20 free submission places for writers from backgrounds typically underrepresented in Irish literature.
Terms & Conditions
Entries are welcome from anywhere in the world, however, in order to be eligible, applicants must be available to attend the Novel Fair two-day event in February 2025, either remotely or in-person.
Before entering the competition, please ensure that you have read the Novel Fair Terms & Conditions 2024-2025 very carefully.
Please see a PDF list of Frequently Asked Questions.
If you have any questions about the application process, please email novelfair@irishwriterscentre.ie.
Success Stories
Please note Novel Fair does not guarantee that first-time novelists will secure a publishing deal. However, there have been success stories. This competition has been a life changing opportunity for writers across the island of Ireland and worldwide, with Novel Fair winners going on to win or be nominated for the Rooney Prize, Costa First Novel Award, Irish Book Awards, Carnegie Award, Kate O’Brien Award, Great Reads Ireland Award, The Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award, Arthur C. Clarke Award, The Yoto Carnegie medal, Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize for Literature, Comedy Women in Print Award, and many others. Since its inception in 2011, 37 winners have found a home for their debut novels as a result of Novel Fair.
There have been a huge number of success stories since the Novel Fair has been established, including:
Published
- Niamh Boyce, The Herbalist (Penguin Ireland, 2013)
- Janet E Cameron, Cinnamon Toast at the End of the World (Hachette, 2013)
- Kevin Curran, Beatsploitation (Liberties Press, 2013)
- Alan Timmons, Here in No Place (New Island, 2013)
- Susan Lannigan, White Feathers, (O’Brien Press, 2014)
- Daniel Seery, A Model Partner (Liberties Press, 2014)
- Andrea Carter, Death at Whitewater Church (Constable, 2015)
- Catriona Lally, Eggshells (Liberties Press, 2015)
- Faith Hogan, My Husband’s Wives (Aria, 2016)
- Orla McAlinden, The Accidental Wife (Sowilo Press, 2016)
- Rachel Kelly, The Edge of Heaven (NewCon Press, 2017)
- RM Clarke, The Glass Door (Dalzell Press, 2018)
- Breda Joy, Eat the Moon (Poolbeg Press, 2018)
- Marion Reynolds, A Soldiers Wife, (Poolbeg Press, 2018)
- Kealan Ryan, The Middle Place (Mercier Press, 2019)
- David Brennan, Upperdown (époque press, 2019)
- Michelle Gallen, Big Girl, Small Town (Algonquin, 2020)
- Eoin Lane, Beyond the Horizon (Blackstone Publishing, 2020)
- Marianne Lee, A Quiet Tide (New Island, 2020)
- Alice Lyons, Oona (Lilliput, 2020)
- Gráinne Murphy, Where the Edge Is (Legend Press, 2020)
- Sue Divin, Guard Your Name (Macmillan, 2021)
- Fidelma Kelly, Sweet Lemons (Poolbeg Press, 2021)
- Laura McKenna, Words to Shape My Name (New Island, 2021)
- Neil Sharpson, When the Sparrow Falls (Macmillan, 2021)
- Olivia Fitzsimons, The Quiet Whispers Never Stop (John Murray Press, 2022)
- Aingeala Flannery, The Amusements (Sandycove, 2022)
- Bryan Moriarty, Sounds Like Fun (Hodder, 2023)
- Declan Toohey, Perpetual Comedown (New Island, 2023)
- Lauren Mackenzie, The Couples (Hachette, 2023)
Soon to be published
- Alison Langley, Ilona Gets a Phone (Dedalus) Febuary 2024
- Miki Lentin, Winter Sun (Afsana Press) March 2024
- Anne Hamilton, The Almost Truth (Legend Times) April 2024
- Orla Mackey, Mouthing (Hamish Hamilton) Spring 2024
- Hesse Phillips, Lightborne (Atlantic Books) May 2024
- Estelle Birdy, Ravelling (Lilliput) May 2024
- Rachel Blackmore, Constanza (Renegade Books) August 2024
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