CAPA members: 9/12/2026 – 11/30/2026

Non-CAPA members: 10/1/2026 – 11/30/2026

How many entries are allowed in total?

A total of 50 entries for this inaugural contest year.

What is the fee for entry?

• $50 for CAPA members
• $75 for non-members
• Non-members are encouraged to become members prior to submission.

How many books may I submit?

You may submit two (2) manuscripts. A full entry fee is required for each manuscript submitted. There is no group discount.

When is judging taking place?

Round 1 judging: 12/1/2026 – 2//12/2027

Round 2 judging: 2/16/2027 – 3/26/2027

Round 3 judging: 3/29/2027 – 7/30/2027

When will winners be announced?

August 23, 2027

Who is judging the entries?

Experienced CAPA writers and editors are judging rounds one and two. At least two judges will score each sample using the same rubric.

Three industry professionals will read manuscripts promoted to round three.

How many books will be chosen as winners?

Two. One fiction and one non-fiction.

What are the prizes for winners?

• The top five finalists in each category will be awarded certificates for Outstanding Achievement in Writing. ^[1]
• Honorable mentions will be awarded in each category. ^[1]
• Gina Panettieri, President/founder of Talcott Notch Literary Agency and a prominent literary agent, has agreed to read the #1 fiction and #1 nonfiction submissions for consideration. 

What genres are included?

Fiction Genres

• Fantasy — Includes high fantasy, urban fantasy, and magical worlds.
• Science Fiction — Futuristic, technological, or speculative concepts.
• Mystery — Crime-solving, clues, investigations.
• Thriller / Suspense — High tension, danger, fast pacing.
• Horror — Supernatural or psychological fear.
• Romance — Relationship‑centered stories.
• Historical Fiction — Stories set in real historical periods.
• Contemporary Fiction — Realistic stories set in modern times.
• Action & Adventure — Fast‑moving, high‑stakes journeys.
• Literary Fiction — Emphasis on style, theme, and character depth.
• Young Adult (YA) — Not a genre by itself, but a category; can be paired with any genre. (Noted as age range, not genre.)
• Children’s Fiction including picture books — Age‑specific storytelling for young readers.

Nonfiction Genres

• Biography / Autobiography / Memoir — Life stories of real individuals.
• History — Factual accounts of past events.
• Self‑Help / Personal Development — Guidance for personal improvement.
• True Crime — Real criminal cases and investigations.
• Science & Technology — Explanations of scientific or technical topics.
• Politics / Current Affairs — Analysis of political or social issues.
• Travel — Exploration of places, cultures, and journeys.
• Essays — Collections of reflective or analytical writings.
• Religion / Spirituality — Belief systems, practices, and reflections.

Is this open to published works?

No. Only unpublished manuscripts are accepted. (You can be a published author.)

Note: Unpublished means your manuscript is not available for sale or free for distribution via any publisher or self-published means.

What minimum length (number of words) manuscript can be submitted?

At least 35,000 words, except children’s books, which have no lower limit.

How are manuscripts submitted?

They will be submitted via the CAPA website. The submission link is below.

The fee must be paid at the time of submission.

What data is needed to submit?

• Entry fee
• Your name/penname if applicable
• Your mailing address
• Phone number
• Email address
• Manuscript genre
• The first 50 pages in PDF Format
• The full manuscript in PDF format
• The back cover blurb in PDF format

What are the submission criteria?

• It must be a completed, unpublished manuscript
• Submit the first 50 pages in PDF format (to be used for round 1 and 2 judging)
• Submit the full manuscript in PDF format (to be used in final round judging)
• Submit a ‘back cover blurb’ of no more than 150 words
• Each of the manuscript forms submitted must be in Times New Roman, 12 point font with 1” margins, double-spaced
• Title and page numbers in the header
• Authors name must not appear anywhere in any of the above documents.

How will manuscripts be judged?

A rubric for Rounds 1 and 2 was developed specifically for this contest. Final judges are able to use the rubric, but are not limited to it.

What feedback will be provided?

Round 1: Scores of 75 or under will be provided general feedback. Scores above 75 will receive more specific feedback. Only books scoring 75 and above will be promoted to round 2.

Round 2: Scores of 75 or under will be provided general feedback. Scores above 75 will receive more specific feedback. The top scoring books will be promoted to round 3.

Round 3: The final judges will provide brief feedback to the authors.

Recommendations

Do not include a title page in the 50-page PDF to provide the longest possible sample.

Proof your sample and final manuscript so it is as clean (error-free) as possible.