One manuscript becomes a professionally published book.
The Manuscript Incident is an international prize for a complete work of speculative fiction. The winner will be offered a publishing contract with Minor Human Error Books.
You have already done the difficult thing: written an entire novel. The prize exists to give one exceptional manuscript the editorial care, production and route to readers it deserves.
What the winner receives
A developmental edit
A professional developmental editor will work closely with the author on the complete manuscript. The purpose is not to make an unusual book more ordinary. It is to help the book become the strongest version of itself. The author pays nothing.
A professionally produced audiobook
The finished novel will be performed by a human narrator, directed, edited and mastered for commercial release. Audio is part of the publication plan from the beginning, not an optional format somebody may consider later.
Publication and an advance
Minor Human Error Books will publish the novel in audiobook, ebook and print editions. The author will receive an advance against royalties, transparent royalty reporting and a proper launch campaign.
A direct route
Writers will not need an agent to enter. The winning manuscript moves directly into a publishing relationship, subject to the clear contract terms supplied before entry.
Complete dates, eligibility, terms and guaranteed values will be published before submissions open. Until then, please do not email us your novel. It has survived enough.