Your Novel: How to Get Started

Get inspired to start preparing your submission to Discoveries 2025. Learn how to write a great opening that will inspire your readers to keep turning the page and uncover what the judges are looking for from submissions. Join our free Your Novel: How to Get Started webinar on Wednesday 2 October 2024, 7.00pm to 8.30pm (UK time). The webinar will be open to 500 people to watch live and will be available to watch on the CBC YouTube channel after the event. Event attendees will also have the chance to submit a question to the expert panel ahead of time. Registration for this event is now open. Click the button below to sign up.

Speakers

This event will be chaired by Kate Mosse, author and Founder Director of the Women's Prize. You’ll also hear from Discoveries 2025 judges Dreda Say Mitchell and Anna Davis – plus Curtis Brown agent Rosie Pierce and her client Niamh Connolly (winner of Discoveries 2024).

Niamh Connolly, winner of Discoveries 2024

Niamh ConnollyRead bio →

Anna Davis, CBC's founder and Discoveries judge

Anna DavisRead bio →

Dreda Say MitchellRead bio →

Kate MosseRead bio →

Rosie Pierce, Curtis Brown associate agent

Rosie PierceRead bio →

About Discoveries 2025

Discoveries is a unique writing development initiative, which invites all unpublished women writers aged 18 and up, currently residing in the UK or Ireland and writing in English, to submit their works of adult fiction to the Discoveries Prize.

The prize doesn’t require writers to have finished a novel – only to have started one – and it is free to enter. We're looking for writing that shows real potential, not necessarily polished drafts.

The programme includes free online and events that will run throughout the submissions window to inspire women to start writing a novel – this includes our free Your Novel: How to Get Started webinar.

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Your Novel: How to Get Started

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About Discoveries 2025

Your Novel: How to Get Started