How to enter
Thank you for your interest in the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize 2020. The competition is now closed for entries.
The Prize is for a novel by a woman over the age of 21 that marries literary merit with unputdownability. The work can be on any subject at all. We welcome submissions of literary fiction and genre fiction equally. Novels for young adults or children are acceptable if they are mainly word-based; picture books are excluded.

The work you submit must be unpublished, and must not have been accepted for future publication or self-published. In addition, anyone who has previously had a full-length novel accepted for publication is not eligible to enter. Entrants must be resident in the UK or Ireland.
To be considered, you need to supply us with your entry fee of £12, and submit the first 40-50 pages of the novel via the online form and a synopsis (3-5 pages long) of the remainder.
For full details, please read and follow the competition Terms and Conditions carefully – unfortunately we cannot take entries forward if they do not comply with the rules!
The 2020 longlist will be announced early March.

Terms and Conditions


  1. 2020 Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize is open to unpublished female writers, aged 21 or over, who live in the UK or Ireland.
  2. We welcome submissions of literary fiction and genre fiction equally. 
  3. Novels for young adults or children (middle grade or above) are acceptable if they are mainly word-based. 
  4. Picture books, jointly authored novels and short stories are not eligible for submission.
  5. The novel must be unpublished, and must not have been accepted for future publication or be self-published (publishing part of the novel on a blog or website eg one chapter makes a novel ineligible for this competition). 
  6. Authors must not have agent representation at the time of submission.
  7. Only one entry per person is permitted for the 2020 Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize.
  8. Authors cannot have a previous novel published.
  9. No current staff member, Fellow or full-time student of Lucy Cavendish College can enter the competition.
  10. Shortlisted authors and the winning author will be expected to participate in promotional activities throughout the year.
  11. The Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize will be expected to be mentioned in any published novels that are associated with the Prize.
  12. Any entrant found to be in contravention of any of the terms and conditions will be automatically disqualified.
  13. The judges’ decision will be final. The judges reserve the right not to award the prize if they think that none of the entries are of sufficient merit.
​NB: Due to the volume of entries received it is not possible for the judges to provide feedback on non-shortlisted entries. Please check the FAQS for more information.

​Sponsored entries for low income writers
Our grateful thanks to author Frances Perkins (writing as Frances Maynard) for sponsoring eight entries for low income writers otherwise unable to afford entry fees. Thanks to the generosity of additional sponsors, the number of pre-paid entries is now ten.  These entries will be available to the first ten entries who meet the criteria as a low income writer.  We are delighted to be able to reach out to low income writers who may not be in a position to be able to enter.
How to apply for a sponsored entry:
To apply, please select the ‘Sponsored Entry’ option in the Entry type of our online entry form. Applicants must be able to provide proof of financial eligibility such as: Jobseeker’s Allowance; Disability Benefit; Income Support; Working Tax Credit; proof of being a full-time student; Housing Benefit; proof of being a full-time carer. This must be uploaded under the Sponsored Entry - Proof of Financial.  We will confirm if you have met the criteria for a sponsored entry. All details will be kept confidential. 
Interested in sponsoring a low income writer?
If you would like to sponsor a low income writer, or have any other queries, please email: executiveassistant@lucy.cam.ac.uk
The Shortlist, the Prize-giving ceremony and the Prize
The judges will draw up a shortlist of submissions. Those entrants, plus one guest per shortlisted entrant, will be invited to the prize-giving drinks reception and awards ceremony. Industry representatives will also be present, as will Fellows and students of the college.
Allison Pearson, Chair of the judging panel, will announce the winner and award the prize of £1,500.00 at a drinks reception at the beginning of the evening.  All shortlistees will have the chance to meet industry representatives at the reception.
All shortlistees will be offered one-to-one consultations with agents at PFD (subject to them not having an existing agent) who will provide editorial feedback and discuss the marketability of their work.

FAQs

For any queries about the Prize, please check the FAQs or contact our Executive Assistant at executiveassistant@lucy.cam.ac.uk

Thinking of entering?

Start writing! The Fiction Prize will be back in 2021. Best of luck!

Our Sponsors

The Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize is sponsored by Our sponsorPeters Fraser and Dunlop (PFD).