Maybe it is grim up north, but that attitude likely won't win you the Crocus North West Novel Competition 2005, looking for the best new novel from a North West writer. The prize is £1000 and publication of your work by Crocus Books. It's a local contest for local people, and full details follow after the jump.

Crocus North West Novel Competition 2005
Win £1,000 & have your novel published by Crocus Books

The search is on to find the best new novel from a North West writer in our latest novel competition. The competition welcomes submissions in any genre except children's fiction from all writers living or working in the North West. It's very difficult for new writers to get their first novel published - this competition provides a rare break for talented writers that don't have the ear of the publishing industry.

Crocus have already launched the careers of several local authors, including Cath Staincliffe, one of this year's judges alongside Rajeev Balasubramanyam and Sarah Tierney. Last year's winner, David Evans, praised the competition for helping him achieve a life long ambition. His novel, A Touch of the Sun, a personal and political coming of age novel set in apartheid South Africa, has just been published to much literary acclaim.

How the Competition Works

Stage One (Closing date: Monday 2nd January 2006). Entrants should send a two page synopsis (including a plot outline and details of main characters and themes) plus the first three chapters or fifty pages (whichever is the shorter) of their novel. Novels can be on any theme and in any genre except children's fiction. Please note: you should not enter Stage One unless you have almost completed the full novel.

Stage Two (Closing date: Tuesday 2nd May 2006). Up to five shortlisted authors will be invited to submit completed novels (of between fifty to eighty thousand words in length) for the judges' consideration.

Judging Process
Initial longlisting will be done by Crocus editors. Shortlisting and final selection will be done by guest judges: Rajeev Balasubramanyam, Cath Staincliffe & Sarah Tiernay.

Prizes
The winner will receive a £1,000 as part of a publication deal with crocus books.

How to enter
It costs £15 (waged) or £10 (unwaged) to enter the competition. For further details and an entry form please send an SAE to: Crocus Novel Competition, Commonword, 6 Mount Street, Manchester, M2 5NS.