About the contest
A Novel Idea: First Draft 2026
Three months. Fifty thousand words. One story only you can write. It all starts in November, National Novel Writing Month, and A Novel Idea challenges you to start a brand-new novel on Inkitt and take it to 50,000 words by January 31, 2027.
✍️ Whether you've been carrying an idea around for years or you're starting from a blank page today, now is the time to start. Romance, fantasy, thriller, horror, sci-fi: every genre is welcome.
📖 Publish as you write. Each chapter you post brings readers along with you, and their comments can keep you going all the way to the finish line. Keep the National Novel Writing Month pace of 1,667 words a day and you'll reach 50,000 by November 30. Prefer a steadier pace? About 550 words a day gets you there by the deadline.
📅 Submission Deadline: January 31, 2027 at 11:59 PM PST
Writing tips
- Set a daily target and publish a chapter each time you hit it.
- Don't stop to edit. A finished first draft beats a perfect first chapter.
What you win
🥇 1st Place
- A Galatea publishing contract offer
- $300 USD
- Social media spotlight across Inkitt platforms
- Inkitt VIP Badge
- Contest Winner badge for your book cover
- Feature on @inkittbooks Instagram
🥈 2nd Place
- $150 USD
- Social media spotlight across Inkitt platforms
- Inkitt VIP Badge
- Contest Winner badge for your book cover
- Feature on @inkittbooks Instagram
🥉 3rd Place
- $50 USD
- Social media spotlight across Inkitt platforms
- Inkitt VIP Badge
- Contest Winner badge for your book cover
- Feature on @inkittbooks Instagram
Winner Announcement / Payment / Selection
- Winners will be announced within 4 weeks of the contest end date on Inkitt's Instagram and the Inkitt Winners Page.
- Winners will be paid the month following their selection.
- Winner selection is determined by Inkitt's algorithm, analyzing reader behaviors when interacting with your book.
Contest Terms
Contest Dates
- Start: November 1, 2026
- End: January 31, 2027 at 11:59 PM PST
Entry Guidelines
✅ Entry is free!
✅ Publish your story on Inkitt and submit via the contest page or your work settings.
✅ Minimum 50,000 words by the deadline
✅ No maximum word limit
✅ Stories must be submitted in English
✅ Stories do not need to be complete to win
✅ Stories must be original (no plagiarism)
✅ All fiction genres are welcome
✅ Explicit sex scenes are allowed when the book is correctly age-rated
✅ Multiple entries allowed (only one story per author can win)
✅ New stories only - the entry must be a new story, started and published on Inkitt on or after November 1, 2026
✅ Paid-tier subscription stories are eligible
❌ Previously published, previously completed or already-ongoing stories are not eligible
❌ Entries already signed/published on Galatea or part of a signed series are ineligible
❌ Fanfiction, poetry and non-fiction are not eligible
Age Rating & Title Guidelines
- Titles must be suitable for all audiences.
- Mature/age-restricted content is allowed if correctly labeled.
- Other mature themes such as violence, strong language, or sensitive topics are permitted if appropriately labeled.
