Novel Excerpt Contest 2026 — The Masters Review ($3,000 + Literary Agent Consultation)
The Masters Review
The Masters Review's annual fall contest for novel excerpts by emerging writers, now in its sixth year.
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The winner receives $3,000, online publication and an hour-long consultation with Marin Takikawa, literary agent at The Friedrich Agency. Second and third place receive $300 and $200, online publication and agent feedback. Guest judge: Chinelo Okparanta.
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For emerging writers only: writers with single-author book-length work published or under contract with a major press are ineligible (indie-press and self-published authors are welcome). Self-contained novel excerpts under 6,000 words, previously unpublished (including blogs and social media); primarily literary fiction, no genre limits. International submissions allowed if written primarily in English; no translations. Novels under contract for 2026–2027 are ineligible.
Dates & details
- Deadline
- 11:59 p.m. PST
- Costs to the artist
- Entry fee only; submission online