Leapfrog global fiction prize
The first Leapfrog Fiction Prize was established in 2009 as an additional means of discovering new writing. This year, we have rebranded the contest, the Leapfrog Press Global Fiction Prize and have split the competition into two, providing both an Adult Fiction prize and a Young Adult | Middle Grade prize.
Submissions are now open for the 2024 Leapfrog Global Fiction Prize! Submissions close May 5, 2024.
Visit the new prize site for the latest information: LeapfrogPrize.org
What to Enter
We have expanded to two awards for Adult novels, novellas, and short story collections, and Young Adult (YA) and Middle Grade (MG) novels. Minimum word count: 22,000. Individual stories in a collection may have been published in journals. Books that have been self-published will be considered "unpublished" if fewer than about 200 copies were printed.
We look for literary fiction and mainstream fiction, including science fiction. Generally we are less interested in strict genre fiction, but if a manuscript is good and grabs our attention, we don't care what the genre is.
Judging
All manuscripts will be reviewed by at least two Leapfrog and/or Can of Worms editors, and those that go to the second round of judging may be read by editors at other small presses as well.
Manuscripts are reviewed "blind": the judges do not know the authors' names or any other information about them. This is important to our judging process and the integrity of the contest.
Ready to submit?
We will accept all entries via our Submittable page:
Awards
First Prize: publication contract offer from Leapfrog Press and Can of Worms Press, with an advance payment against royalties, plus the finalist awards (see below).
Finalists: $150 and one or two critiques of the manuscript from contest judges; permanent listing on the Leapfrog Press and Can of Worms contest pages as a contest finalist, along with short author bio and description of the book.
Semi-Finalist: Choice of a free Leapfrog and Can of Worms book; permanent listing on the websites.
Honourable Mention: listing on the Leapfrog Press and Can of Worms Press websites.
We encourage all contest awardees to inform us of any publicity/contracts/reviews of their entries. We will be happy to post that information on our website and in our newsletter.
Any questions? Check out our FAQs page!