The 2012 Paris Literary Prize will be awarded for an unpublished novella. A submitted novella must be a sustained narrative with a minimum word count of 20,000 and maximum of 30,000.

The novella is a work of fiction and can be set anywhere in the world and be on any topic. This contest is open to writers 18 years and older from all countries.

Linked short stories and works aimed at children or young adults will not be considered. Please visit the How to Enter page for entry details.

 1. The 2012 Paris Literary Prize competition is open to writers over 18 years of age who have not yet had a book commercially published (either fiction or non-fiction). No more than 10% of the submitted manuscript can have been previously published in print or electronic form.

 2. The work must be submitted in English.

 3. Please do not submit your work under a pen name.

 4. Submitted work cannot be under contract for publication at the time of submission.

 5. Only submissions received by midnight Paris time September 1, 2012, or by the extended deadline of September 15, 2012 will be considered.

 6. Entrants must pay the 50€ submission fee to be eligible.

 7. The winners must be available on June 15, 2013 for the prize-giving ceremony.

 8. The competition is not open to employees of Shakespeare and Company, FestivalandCo, the de Groot Foundation or members of the judging panel. Family members of any of the aforementioned are also not eligible.

 9. The entry must be the entrant's own original creation and must not infringe upon the right or copyright of any person or entity.

10. Entrants must be individuals and not a company or organization.

11. Decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the judging process.

12. No editorial feedback will be provided.

13. Prizes are not transferable.

14. Entrants will retain copyright of their work. However, in submitting your work, you give permission to Shakespeare and Company and The de Groot Foundation to publicize and promote your work if appropriate.

15. The Paris Literary Prize awardees agree to take part in reasonable post-event publicity and to the use of their names, title of work and photographs in such publicity.

16. Unsuccessful entrants will not be contacted.

17. Entries that are incomplete, do not meet guidelines, are corrupted or submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

18. Only submissions which meet all conditions and criteria will be considered.

19. By entering this competition, each entrant agrees to be bound by these terms & conditions.