The Mo Siewcharran Prize 2026 opens for entries on 2nd February 2026.
Submission Guidelines
- Open to romance and psychological thriller submissions.
- Entrants must be unagented and previously unpublished, aged 18 or over, resident in the UK and from a Black, Asian, mixed heritage and/or multiple ethnic background.
- Entry requirements: synopsis of the novel (up to 700 words) and up to the first 10,000 words of the novel.
Entry fee: Free to enter
Prizes:
- The winner will receive £2,500 prize money, a 1000-word piece of editorial feedback from a Bookouture editor and follow-up editorial meeting, and an introductory meeting with a literary agent.
- Their submission will also be taken forward to our acquisitions meeting to be considered for publication.
- The runners-up will receive £1,500 and £750, as well as editorial feedback for their projects.
Key Dates:
- 2nd February 2026 – Submissions open
- 2nd May 2026 – Submissions close
- 15th June 2026 – Longlist announced
- 8th September 2026 – Shortlist announced
- 24th September 2026 – Winner announced at the awards ceremony
Please note: This is an external competition; all details, all submissions are on their website. Click here.