BPA Pitch Prize 2026 International Writing Competition with a £500 Prize
Applicant criteria
- NationalityNo specific nationality required
- AgeNo specific age required
- GenderBoth
Opportunity criteria
- Opportunity FieldForeign Languages and Literature, Others
- LocationRemotely
- Deadline2026-11-01
Opportunity description
As part of the international awards and competitions in creative writing and literature, Blue Pencil Agency is accepting entries for the BPA Pitch Prize 2026, an international competition for writers seeking an opportunity to secure literary representation for their fiction.
The competition is looking for works with a strong literary voice, an original and engaging story, and an opening that immediately captures the reader’s attention. Most fiction genres are accepted, with the exception of children’s literature and non-fiction. Young Adult (YA) fiction may also be considered if it is suitable for an adult readership as well.
The competition gives writers the opportunity to present the opening of their novel, its synopsis, and their literary pitch to publishing industry professionals. The 2026 entries will be judged by literary agents Kat Aitken and Seren Adams, co-founders of Lexington Literary Agency.
Benefits
First Prize: £500.
Seven winners will be selected to receive one-on-one Zoom meetings to pitch their novels directly to literary agents Kat Aitken and Seren Adams.
Receive editorial feedback and recommendations.
Gain expert insights and advice on the publishing industry and the next steps for developing the work.
A valuable opportunity for writers seeking literary agent representation.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must be over 18 years old at the time of submission.
Applicants must not currently be represented by a literary agent.
The submitted novel must not have been traditionally published by the competition closing date.
Self-published authors are eligible to apply.
Writers who have previously published other types of work, such as non-fiction, memoirs, or poetry, may also participate.
Applicants must have written at least 10,000 words of the novel.
Works that have previously been longlisted or shortlisted in other writing competitions are eligible.
Applicants may submit more than one novel, but each work must be entered as a separate submission.
Entries must be written in English.
The competition is international and is not limited to residents of the United Kingdom.