Submissions for First Chapter Contest 2026
Off Topic Publishing - full guidelines here: https://offtopicpublishing.com/first-chapter-contest/
Your Legal Name
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First Name
Middle Name
Last Name
Your Pen Name (if applicable)
Prefix
First Name
Middle Name
Last Name
Suffix
Your Email
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example@example.com
Title of Your Manuscript
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Category
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Novel (including Autofiction)
Memoir
This Project is:
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Unpublished
Self-Published
Genre (or your best guess)
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Bio (max 50 words)
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Synopsis of the Entire Manuscript (Include all the important characters/people, plot elements, and the ending.) Don't worry about polishing this too much. Just be clear and make sure the whole story is told.
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Upload First Chapter (doc, docx, or pdf) - please remove all information that could identify you as the author, including in headers, footers, title page, metadata and file name. This File should include a first chapter, a prologue, or a short prologue and part or all of a first chapter (maximum 2500 words total)
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Browse Files
Drag and drop files here
Choose a file
In order to ensure a fair contest, please remove all identifying information from your document, including headers, footers, title page, and file name.
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Do you want feedback from the judge?
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Get feedback on your submission from judge and editor Marion Lougheed (1-2 paragraphs of general commentary) - add $40 to your submission fee
No Feedback
Submission Fee - please select how you will pay and remember to do so immediately after submitting this form (Minimum $25CAD - we gratefully accept contributions above that amount, e.g., an extra $1 will help cover transaction fees and support indie publishing) - N.B. You will NOT be automatically directed to make this payment. YOU WILL NEED TO INITIATE THE TRANSACTION YOURSELF. If you run into difficulties, feel free to email Marion Lougheed at the email address below.
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PayPal to marionlougheed@gmail.com
Interac etransfer to marionlougheed@gmail.com
Wise transfer to marionlougheed@gmail.com
All decisions made by the judge Marion Lougheed regarding the winners or anything else are final. No contest entry fees will be returned. By submitting, you are agreeing to all contest rules. Contest rules are subject to change. You can submit as many times as you want, but please submit each story separately. Single submissions with more than one piece will be discarded.
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I understand and agree
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