Formerly known as Novel Fair, the Irish Writers Centre International Debut Novel Competition is an annual literary competition that awards 12 unpublished novelists with the opportunity to pitch their novels to leading publishers and literary agents.
We all know the path to publication can feel bewildering and mysterious. The International Debut Novel Competition’s mission is to facilitate first encounters between aspiring novelists and members of the publishing industry. During two Pitch Days (4 & 5 December 2025) the 12 winners are given the opportunity to skip the queue and pitch their novels face-to-face or zoom-to-zoom to publishers and agents.
As a first-time novelist it can be difficult to know what an agent or publisher wants and so, in preparation, winners will participate in The Online Prep Day (28 November) where they will learn how to craft the ideal pitch and what to expect from their encounters during our Pitch Days.
In the past, the competition has been attended by representatives from: Curtis Brown, Penguin Random House, Conville & Walsh, époque, Fletcher & Co, Poolbeg Press, Harper Collins, John Murray, Hachette, Lilliput Press, New Island Books, The Book Bureau, The Bent Agency, Greene & Heaton, Storyline Literary Agency and many others.
Submissions are open on Friday 1 August and close on Sunday 14 September at 11.59pm.
Before you submit your work, you should familiarise yourself with the Terms and Conditions and Frequently Asked Questions. Make sure you meet all the conditions and refer to the checklist below before submitting your manuscript.
Entries are welcome from anywhere in the world, however, in order to be eligible, applicants must be available to attend the two Pitch Days on Thursday 4 and Thursday 5 December, either online or in-person.
IMPORTANT CHECKLIST:
- Your name (first and surname) is not present anywhere in your manuscript sample or synopsis.
- Your manuscript sample and synopsis are compiled into one document. File name: = ‘Your Novel Title’ (do not include any other identifying details in the file name)
- Your synopsis is no more than 500 words (+/-10%) in length.
- Your manuscript is no more than 5,000 words (+/-10%) in length.
- You have read the Terms and Conditions.
Formerly known as Novel Fair, the Irish Writers Centre International Debut Novel Competition is an annual literary competition that awards 12 unpublished novelists with the opportunity to pitch their novels to leading publishers and literary agents.
We all know the path to publication can feel bewildering and mysterious. The International Debut Novel Competition’s mission is to facilitate first encounters between aspiring novelists and members of the publishing industry. During two Pitch Days (4 & 5 December 2025) the 12 winners are given the opportunity to skip the queue and pitch their novels face-to-face or zoom-to-zoom to publishers and agents.
As a first-time novelist it can be difficult to know what an agent or publisher wants and so, in preparation, winners will participate in The Online Prep Day (28 November) where they will learn how to craft the ideal pitch and what to expect from their encounters during our Pitch Days.
In the past, the competition has been attended by representatives from: Curtis Brown, Penguin Random House, Conville & Walsh, époque, Fletcher & Co, Poolbeg Press, Harper Collins, John Murray, Hachette, Lilliput Press, New Island Books, The Book Bureau, The Bent Agency, Greene & Heaton, Storyline Literary Agency and many others.
Submissions are open on Friday 1 August and close on Sunday 14 September at 11.59pm.
Before you submit your work, you should familiarise yourself with the Terms and Conditions and Frequently Asked Questions. Make sure you meet all the conditions and refer to the checklist below before submitting your manuscript.
Entries are welcome from anywhere in the world, however, in order to be eligible, applicants must be available to attend the two Pitch Days on Thursday 4 and Thursday 5 December, either online or in-person.
IMPORTANT CHECKLIST:
- Your name (first and surname) is not present anywhere in your manuscript sample or synopsis.
- Your manuscript sample and synopsis are compiled into one document. File name: = ‘Your Novel Title’ (do not include any other identifying details in the file name)
- Your synopsis is no more than 500 words (+/-10%) in length.
- Your manuscript is no more than 5,000 words (+/-10%) in length.
- You have read the Terms and Conditions.