A £50,000 Writing Prize Gives Readers the Power
In a bold move to disrupt traditional publishing norms, Libraro has launched a new writing prize that puts readers at the helm. The competition allows entrants to submit full manuscripts, after which readers can champion their favorite entries and shape the shortlist. This innovative approach aims to "sidestep the barricades" of the book industry, as organizers put it.
Adult fiction written in English is eligible for the prize, with a focus on discovering new writing talent. The winner will take home a £50,000 prize package, including £30,000 and £20,000 towards marketing their finished book. Two additional reader prizes of £10,000 each are also up for grabs - one to the reader who referred the winning author to the platform and another to the reader who engages most actively with submissions.
The judges panel is comprised of bestselling thriller author Elly Griffiths, Deborah Maclaren from LoveReading, and book blogger Zubs J Malik. The prize is supported by several organizations, including Hachette UK, LoveReading, the Frontline Club, New Writing North, and The Reading Agency.
Creator David Roche believes that this prize puts "power in the hands of writers and readers". He's not alone; Deborah Maclaren echoes his sentiments, stating that readers "shape culture" and are integral to the publishing ecosystem. With self-publishing on the rise, this competition taps into the growing trend, with several self-published authors making a name for themselves in recent years.
The competition is open to anyone aged 18 or over worldwide, regardless of their publishing history or professional representation. Entrants will have the chance to receive constructive feedback from readers and receive professional support to help them package and format their manuscripts before they're assessed by judges.
Entries begin on January 19th, with a deadline of February 15th. The shortlist is set to be announced in April, while the winner will be revealed in May.
In a bold move to disrupt traditional publishing norms, Libraro has launched a new writing prize that puts readers at the helm. The competition allows entrants to submit full manuscripts, after which readers can champion their favorite entries and shape the shortlist. This innovative approach aims to "sidestep the barricades" of the book industry, as organizers put it.
Adult fiction written in English is eligible for the prize, with a focus on discovering new writing talent. The winner will take home a £50,000 prize package, including £30,000 and £20,000 towards marketing their finished book. Two additional reader prizes of £10,000 each are also up for grabs - one to the reader who referred the winning author to the platform and another to the reader who engages most actively with submissions.
The judges panel is comprised of bestselling thriller author Elly Griffiths, Deborah Maclaren from LoveReading, and book blogger Zubs J Malik. The prize is supported by several organizations, including Hachette UK, LoveReading, the Frontline Club, New Writing North, and The Reading Agency.
Creator David Roche believes that this prize puts "power in the hands of writers and readers". He's not alone; Deborah Maclaren echoes his sentiments, stating that readers "shape culture" and are integral to the publishing ecosystem. With self-publishing on the rise, this competition taps into the growing trend, with several self-published authors making a name for themselves in recent years.
The competition is open to anyone aged 18 or over worldwide, regardless of their publishing history or professional representation. Entrants will have the chance to receive constructive feedback from readers and receive professional support to help them package and format their manuscripts before they're assessed by judges.
Entries begin on January 19th, with a deadline of February 15th. The shortlist is set to be announced in April, while the winner will be revealed in May.
just saw that there's been another massive coral bleaching event worldwide and it's expected to continue for years to come... like we really needed more bad news 
. I mean, putting readers in charge and giving them real power over what gets published? That's some next-level stuff 
. It's like they're saying "you know what, we trust you" 
. And with the self-publishing trend blowing up, it makes sense to give readers a seat at the table.
. I mean, who better to tell you your writing sucks than someone who's actually read it? 
But seriously, it's a great way to get real input and make sure that what gets published is actually something people want to read.
! £50k is like, a small fortune 
. I'm not saying the winner will automatically be a bestseller or anything (although, let's be real, that's kinda expected 
), but this could definitely give someone a serious boost in their writing career.
. 50k people trying to write and get noticed? That's like, a whole lotta noise 
. But overall, I think this is a fantastic idea and can't wait to see what kind of amazing books come out of it 
, readers getting to decide what book gets published? it's like they're taking control of their own stories 
and putting power back in the hands of both authors and readers 
It's about time we saw more reader involvement in the publishing process. The fact that they can shape the shortlist is huge, and the prizes are sweet too (who wouldn't want £10k?)! 
I'm not surprised David Roche is hyped - this feels like a chance for fresh voices to be heard. Fingers crossed we'll see some amazing new writing come out of it 
... but have you seen how cluttered their forum is? 
It's like they just threw a bunch of random features at the wall and hoped something would stick. I mean, who needs that much clicking on "submit" buttons just to get their entry in? 
. I mean, can't we just have a simple, straightforward way to submit our faves without all the extra fluff? 
.
The £50k prize package is pretty sweet too, and I'm low-key rooting for some new authors to get the boost they need to make a splash. The fact that readers can shape the shortlist and win prizes of their own is just genius 
. and the fact that readers can shape the shortlist is like giving them a say in what gets published on the shelves. it's good to see publishers trying new things... maybe they'll discover some awesome authors who aren't already super well-known 