The 7th Annual Book Pipeline Unpublished Contest seeks unpublished manuscripts across 10 categories of entry:

• Comic & Graphic Novel
• General Fiction
• Horror, Mystery, & Thriller
• Literary
• Middle Grade & Chapter Book
• Nonfiction & Memoir
• Picture Book
• Romance
• Sci-Fi & Fantasy
• Young Adult

Winners (1 per category)

• $25,000 in total ($2,500 per category)
• Additional development and mentoring from the Book Pipeline exec team
• Industry circulation to publishers, agents, editors, and other execs
• Consideration from film/TV producers seeking projects for adaptation (depending on book)
• Additional long-term review of other books and creative material

Winners also receive exclusive invitations to private events hosted by Symposium.

The following are some of the over 100 agents and publishers who are open to receiving Book Pipeline material, depending on genre or format.

• AMB Literary Management
• AMP Comics
• Avina Comics
• Creative Artists Agency
• Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret
• Folio Literary Management
• Jane Rotrosen Agency
• LCS Literary
• Red5
• Talcott Notch Literary
• Twisted Comics
• Verve Publishing

Please read the instructions carefully for your submission category. Email us if you have any additional questions.

• Entries must be unpublished at the time of entry.
• Co-written works are acceptable, only one writer needs to register.
• Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.
• Former winners and finalists from Book Pipeline since 2024 are ineligible.
• Authors may submit multiple entries, but each entry can only compete in one category and is a separate entry fee. 
• Simultaneous submissions are allowed (i.e., you can submit the material to other contests, or query agents and publishers, etc. while in competition).

Comics & Graphic Novels

• Comics: full script between 20-28 pages, broken down in comic format (no prose or books).
• Graphic Novels: the first 20-28 pages of manuscript (or a natural stopping point).
• A general synopsis of the complete story (1-3 pages). May include character arcs and supplemental details.
• Art is OPTIONAL, but allowed (up to 5 pages).

Fiction

First 5,000 words (appx.)

A full story synopsis (1-3 pages)

Nonfiction

A full proposal, which may include:

• A general overview (the nonfiction version of a synopsis)
• The book’s potential position in the marketplace
• The author’s platform
• The author's bio
• Comparative, already-published titles
• A chapter-by-chapter outline
• Sample chapters

Memoirs

First 5,000 words only (appx.)

A full story synopsis (1-3 pages)

Picture Books

Full manuscript (text-only or with optional illustrations)

A brief conceptual overview (half-page max)