EARLY DEADLINE:

May 24th, 2024 (for a reduced entry fee)

WINNERS RECEIVE:

$25,000 | industry circulation | executive development

The 2024 Book Pipeline Unpublished contest seeks unpublished manuscripts across ten categories of fiction and nonfiction:

Literary | Mystery / Horror / Thriller | Romance | Sci-Fi & Fantasy | General Fiction | Young Adult | Middle Grade | Picture Books | Nonfiction & Memoir | Comics & Graphic Novels

Select publishers and agents get first look at the top picks for each category, including Creative Artists Agency, HarperCollins, and Verve Publishing.

Winners and Runners-Up receive:

• $25,000 to winners ($2,500 for each category winner)
• Direct circulation to publishers, agents, editors, and other execs
• Consideration from producers seeking projects for film and TV adaptation
• Additional long-term review of other books for potential circulation and promotion
• Access to exclusive writer events via Pipeline Artists' Symposium

DEADLINES

Early: May 24th, 2024 - $40

Regular: August 20th, 2024 - $50

INDUSTRY REVIEWING:

The following agents and publishers will receive an exclusive, three-week first look window for the Grand Prize Winner in each category. Beyond the industry listed here, Book Pipeline's industry network is comprised of over 300 additional agents, editors, and publishers. *list subject to change
 

• Literary: Amy Moore-Benson, AMB Literary Management
• Mystery / Horror / Thriller: Amy Tannenbaum, Agent (Jane Rotrosen Agency)
• Sci-Fi & Fantasy: An Acquiring Editor at a "Big Five House" Science-Fiction/Fantasy imprint (name withheld).
• Romance: Latoya Smith, Agent (LCS)
• General Fiction: Talcott Notch Literary
• Young Adult: Ben Rosenthal, Executive Editor (Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Children's)
• Middle Grade: Mollie Glick, Agent (Creative Artists Agency)
• Picture Books: Emily Van Beek, Partner/Agent (Folio Literary Management)
• Nonfiction & Memoir: Liz Parker, Agent (Verve Publishing, a division of Verve Talent & Literary Agency)
• Comics & Graphic Novels: Twisted Comics, other TBD publishers

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

*please read the instructions carefully for your submission category—but if you have any questions, please email us!

Fiction:

• First 5,000 words only (appx.)
• A full story synopsis (1-3 pages)

Picture Books:

• Full manuscript (either text-only or with illustrations)
• A brief conceptual overview/synopsis (1 page max)

Nonfiction:

A full proposal, which may include: 

• a general overview (the nonfiction version of a synopsis)
• the book’s potential position in the marketplace
• the author’s platform
• the author's bio
• comparative, already-published titles
• a chapter-by-chapter outline
• sample chapters

Memoirs:

• First 5,000 words only (appx.)
• A full story synopsis (1-3 pages)

Comics & Graphic Novels:

• Full script between 20-28 pages, broken down in comic format (no prose or books)
• A general synopsis of the complete story (1-3 pages). May include character arcs and supplemental details.
• Art is OPTIONAL, but allowed (up to 5 pages only).
• All genres accepted.

RULES:

• Entries must (obviously) be unpublished.
• If the material is acquired by a publisher after the time of submission, please notify us and we will pull the submission from competition.
• Co-written works are acceptable, only one writer needs to register.
• Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age at time of entry.
• Former winners and finalists from Book Pipeline since 2020 are ineligible.
• PDF or Word docs only,
• Authors may submit multiple entries, but each entry can only compete in one category and is a separate entry fee.
• Supplemental documents (additional information or media, etc.) are entirely optional and may be emailed separately after registering.
• Simultaneous submissions are allowed (i.e., you can submit the material to other contests, or query agents, etc. while in competition).

- ABOUT BOOK PIPELINE -

For 10 years, Book Pipeline has connected writers worldwide with publishers, agents, editors, and the film industry. Through our two divisions—Unpublished and Adaptation—the company seeks both new and established storytellers. Additionally, Book Pipeline's team of professional editors helps authors refine their fiction and nonfiction manuscripts, queries, and more via the The Workshop.

The Book Pipeline team has helped many authors secure literary representation and publishing deals through its unique, long-term, hands-on facilitation process. Recent published winners include the nonfiction book How to Win the War on Truth by Sam Spitale and the thriller Kill For Love by Laura Picklesimer, with others slated for release in 2024 and 2025.

In total, across Book, Film, and Script Pipeline, approximately 25,000 pieces of creative material are reviewed annually, with over 4,000 entries submitted to Book Pipeline in 2023.

Learn more about Pipeline Media Group, as well as Pipeline Artists, a platform designed to educate and support emerging creatives in the arts.