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Submitting Your Novella

Please read Miami Book Fair/de Groot Prize Terms and Conditions to make sure you meet all the requirements. Click here.

Prepare the following to ensure your submission process goes well when you upload your work:

  • Word Count
  • First Name
  • Last Name
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Geographic location – city, state, country
  • How you found out about the competition
  • Biographical information: In 100 words or less, provide biographical information about who you are as a writer. This is helpful in understanding who enters the competition. Your bio is not connected to your novella manuscript and no reviewers or judges will see it.

 

Your Novella:

  • On the first page put only these two pieces of information:
      • The title of your novella
      • The word count of the novella
  • Number pages sequentially on bottom right of page
  • Put the title of your novella as a header at the top of each page
  • Use 12 pt. Times New Roman font and double-space the document.
  • Must be saved and submitted as a PDF. Make sure your final document is ready to submit before going to the submission page. Once you have submitted your manuscript you cannot make changes
  • Do NOT put your name on your manuscript PDF. This is blinded competition and manuscripts must be submitted without your name. Your name will be entered into the “Name” screen when you start the submission process

 

Prize Timeline:

Submissions for the Miami Book Fair/de Groot Prize are not open at this time. Please join our email list and follow us on social media for information about the MBF/de Groot Prize and other Miami Book Fair programs.

 

How the Submission Process Works:

  • When you click the Submit button below you will be directed to a screen where you will click the orange “submit” button
  • The next screen will ask you to create a Submittable account – set up your Submittable account (name, email & password). Click “create account and continue.”
  • The next screen is where you submit your novella. On this page enter:
    1. The title of your novella
    2. Your 100 word or less biographical information
    3. Upload your Novella as a PDF
    4. Then click Submit
  • You will see a screen that says, “submission successfully submitted.”

Congratulations! We look forward to reading your work.

Award packages:

  • Award package for the winner:
    • $6,000.00 cash award
    • Publication by Melville House, a critically acclaimed independent press
    • Hotel, travel and per diem to attend and read/participate in other programs at Miami Book Fair after publication
    • Publicity and exposure at the Miami Book Fair, on the Miami Book Fair website and social media properties, and in Miami Book Fair publications. Other media exposure as appropriate.
  • Award package for the two runners-ups:
    • $3,000 cash award
    • Hotel, travel and per diem to attend and read/participate in other programs at Miami Book Fair 2020
    • Publicity and exposure at the Miami Book Fair, on the Miami Book Fair website and social media properties, and in Miami Book Fair publications. Other media exposure as appropriate.

Miami Book Fair’s literary contests adhere to the Council of Literary Magazines & Presses Contest Code of Ethics as stated below.

“CLMP’s community of independent literary publishers believes that ethical contests serve our shared goal: to connect writers and readers by publishing exceptional writing. We believe that intent to act ethically, clarity of guidelines, and transparency of process form the foundation of an ethical contest. To that end, we agree to 1) conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our readers, judges, or editors; 2) to provide clear and specific contest guidelines—defining conflict of interest for all parties involved; and 3) to make the mechanics of our selection process available to the public. This Code recognizes that different contest models produce different results, but that each model can be run ethically. We have adopted this Code to reinforce our integrity and dedication as a publishing community and to ensure that our contests contribute to a vibrant literary heritage.”

The Miami Book Fair/de Groot Prize for the Novella  utilizes a double blind review process. Screeners do not know the names of the authors of the submissions they review and each entry is read twice by two different screeners at three levels before the finalists are forwarded to Justin Torres, judge for the Prize’s 2019 – 2020 cycle.

The screeners are well-qualified to review the manuscripts. Each must demonstrate a professional background in writing and editing. Miami Book Fair also reviews screeners’ credentials and prefers screeners who have participated as screeners and judges of other writing contests.