Umbria Writing & Publishing First Chapter Contest

The Umbria Writing & Publishing Workshop is pleased to offer an annual contest for the most promising first chapter of a new, unpublished work of fiction or non-fiction by an author who has yet to be published by a trade press.

The chapter cannot exceed 3000 words, and should be submitted as a Word or PDF document, double-spaced, in 12-point font. The author’s name and email address should be included in the document. The chapter should be followed by a brief summary (maximum of 800 words) describing the rest of the book.

The judges will look for a well-written, engaging "hook" of a first chapter, one which draws in the readers, leaving them eager to read on.

First Prize:

• A full scholarship to the Umbria Writing & Publishing Workshop, held each year in Italy (1250 euro value)

• Three months of free book development, editing, and publication advice on the rest of your manuscript from one of our judges

• If the editing process goes well, the recipient will also receive a personal letter of recommendation from the judges, which may be sent along with your manuscript to agents and publishers.
  

Second Prize:

• A half-tuition scholarship to the Umbria Writing & Publishing Workshop (625 euro value)

• If the judges see the project to be of sufficient merit, the recipient will also receive a personal letter of recommendation from the judges, which may be sent along with your manuscript to agents and publishers.
  

Entries are due by May 1, and should be emailed to theartthief@gmail.com. No entry fee.

Prize winners should note that the Umbria Writing & Publishing Workshop will only run as planned if at least four tuition-paying students have enrolled by May 15.  If fewer have enrolled, the Workshop retains the right to offer a shorter version of the workshop within the same advertised dates, presenting the same material but in more of a tutorial setting.  Alternatively, the Workshop and prize winners can arrange to attend the Workshop in a future year or at a mutually-convenient time in tutorial or correspondence formats.  The Workshop will only present an award if a submission is received that is considered by the judges to be of sufficient quality to warrant an award.

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