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HNS 2026 First Chapters Competition

We invite entries for our HNS 2026 First Chapters Competition, which aims to recognise and promote excellence in storytelling and the craft of historical fiction and its sub-genres.

Entry submission for the HNS 2026 First Chapter Competition opens on 1 August 2025 and closes on 17 November 2025.

The overall winner will be announced at the HNS 2026 conference on 22 August 2026. See the timeline below for further details.

The competition is for the opening (maximum 3,000 words) and 1-page synopsis of a full-length historical novel that has not been previously published in any form.

The competition is open to members of the HNS and to non-members. It is open to previously published and unpublished authors. Please ensure that you read through the Rules and the FAQs.

The entry fees are £25 for HNS members and £35 for non-members.

If you are not yet a member of the HNS, do consider joining us.

Competition Categories

The competition categories are:

Historical Fiction Ancient to 10th century

Historical Fiction 11th century to 16th century

Historical Fiction 17th century to 19th century

Historical Fiction 20th century

Historical Romance

Historical Crime

Biographical Historical Fiction

Historical Adventure

Historical Fantasy, Timeslip, Alternate History

Children’s & Young Adult Historical Fiction

The previous HNS competition in 2024 received over 400 entries. Read more about the HNS 2024 competition and winners.

Competition Prizes

The Overall Winner will receive £1,000 and the competition trophy.

The ten Category Winners will each receive £500 and a free HNS 2026 conference ticket (onsite or online). They will be recognised with Category Winner Certificates at the Gala Dinner at the HNS 2026 conference on 22 August 2026. You do not have to attend the conference to enter the competition.

All longlisted, shortlisted and winning entrants will receive badges and banner for their websites and announcement on social media.

Each entry will receive constructive feedback from our judges of between 100 and 200 words. The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Competition Judges

The competition will be judged through three rounds.

First Round

The First-Round judging will produce the Category Shortlists. The assessors are book reviewers for Historical Novels Review magazine.

Read more about the First-Round Judges.

Second Round

The Second-Round judging will produce the Category winners. The assessors are book review editors for Historical Novels Review magazine and HNS 2026 conference organisers.

Read more about the Second-Round Judges.

Final Round

The judges for the overall winner are writer Martina Devlin, publisher Karen Sullivan (Orenda Books), and agent Therese Coen (Susanna Lea Associates). Read more about the Final-Round Judges.

Competition Timeline

1 Aug 2025 09.00 GMT Competition opens

17 Nov 2025 23.59 GMT Competition closes

1 Mar 2026 Category Short Lists are announced

1 May 2026 Category Winners and the Overall Short List are announced

22 Aug 2026 Overall judges present prizes to the Category Winners and announce the Overall Winner at the HNS 2026 Conference Gala Dinner

Enter the Competition

You can submit your entry and pay your entry fee from 09.00 GMT 1 August to 23.59 GMT 17 November 2025.

Please pay attention to the closing time and timezone. Late entries cannot be accepted. [link will be live from 1 August 2025]

ENTER THE HNS 2026 FIRST CHAPTER COMPETITION

Other Writing Competitions

You can read about a selection of other competitions that you may be interested in here.

Contact

If you have read through the Rules and FAQs and still have questions about entering, please email us on competition@hns2026.com