Awarding $3,500 + Publication. Writing a novel is tough work, and The Masters Review wants to encourage everyone who’s undertaking this arduous journey to share their most exciting excerpts.
We’re looking for resonant narratives, memorable characters, a voice that’s uniquely yours. We’re looking for excerpts that stand alone, that do not require a synopsis for understanding. Most importantly, we’re looking for excerpts that grab us from the get-go and refuse to let go. As always, we have no limitations on genre, though we are primarily interested in literary fiction.
This year’s guest judge: Chinelo Okparanta, author of Under the Udala Tree, the forthcoming This Impossible Life, and more!
Okparanta will select three finalists from a shortlist provided by The Masters Review’s editorial staff. The winning excerpt will be awarded $3,000; online publication; and an hour-long consultation with Marin Takikawa, a literary agent with The Friedrich Agency. Second- and third-place excerpts will be awarded online publication and $300 and $200 respectively, in addition to written feedback from Takikawa.
This contest is for emerging writers only. International submissions are allowed, provided the work is written primarily in English.
Find out more here
Deadline: Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PT