Congratulations to everyone who entered The Marlowe and Christie Novel Prize! The standard was amazing and we are so grateful to all those who trusted us with their words. Today we are releasing our shortlist, which is divided into Commended and Highly Commended Entries. The ten best pieces from the Highly Commended list will be forwarded to the agents and Patrick Gleeson for feedback and further consideration for the cash prize. The Shortlist is attached here on Marlowe and Christie Skool. Congratulations again, everyone!

Hi folks I deliver one-off workshops and ongoing courses for a local college (for adult learners). The topics are all aspects of writing and publishing, fiction related. The college has asked me if I’ll deliver next year, and for the first time requested that I pick my classes for the whole academic year, now. For various reasons (that I won’t bore you with) they can’t currently give me insight into student requests - which would have been my starting point! I’ll definitely be repeating my intensive 1-day course on novel writing and probably the sessions on self-publishing. I was thinking of offering a short one called ‘Getting it done!’ About productivity/ procrastination/ plotting, etc. So… my question is, if someone was offering classes very close to your home, what would you love to see on the prospectus? I’m sure we’re a varied bag of confidence, skills, backgrounds, and experience here, so I’d really appreciate any thoughts! I also realise some things may be beyond my own skillset (always learning) but without boring you with my whole CV, I’m happy to take any ideas for reflection. Courses are face-to-face and can be pretty much any length, but intensive Saturday ones work better much better for my schedule. NB. I can assure you I’m not trying to sell you anything - unless, in the extremely unlikely event that you live on the same tiny island as me off the coast of France! 😁

Many, many entries this cycle, well beyond what we had anticipated, and the standard of the writing has made winnowing the longlist unusually difficult. Thank you to everyone who trusted us with their opening pages. The quality was so high that the commended list is longer than in previous cycles. We are releasing the names in no particular order, over the coming days, and a shortlist will be drawn from this group. Today, in no particular order, we are announcing: - Lies on Sale by Gabby Martini - The Impossibility of Eden by Harry Wilson - Beach Dog by Tom McDonough - The Breaking Point by Fiona Harriet - The Taste of Iron by Ramona Slusarczyk - Askar and the Witch by Nina van der Beek - The City of a Thousand Eyes by Angelique Talbot - The Melusine Murders by Jesse Weiner Congratulations to all of them. Many further entries, equally commended, will be announced over the coming days. If your name is not yet here, please don't read into its absence. Names are being released in the order we can write the posts, which has nothing to do with preference, and every remaining commendation carries the same weight as those above.

Is the suspense of waiting for the rest of the commended list driving anyone else out of their minds? With such a flimsy deadline for the full winners list, I am beside myself with anxious anticipation and it is stressing me out. Anyone else with me on this? Or are you just shaking it off?

Blue Pencil Agency First Novel Award 2026 The international writing competition is open to unrepresented and unpublished authors for a novel in any adult fiction genre. Winner: £1,500 + Agent Introduction Runner up: £500 + Agent Introduction. Closes 31st May 2026.https://bluepencilagency.com/blue-pencil-agency-annual-competitions/bpa-first-novel-award-2026/