For all the OELN novelists out there I’m here to remind you were only 7 DAYS AWAY/1 WEEK FROM THE OPENING OF J-NOVEL CLUB’S WRITING CONTEST!!

On September 1st contest submission will open but remember to read the guidelines and other submission rules before submitting as you won’t be able to resubmit any revised additions to your novel after. Doing so will cost both submissions in being disqualified. Given that the the open submission period will have a generous three month deadline for entries, any writers who don’t already have a polished manuscript can still write a new light novel within that period.

HERE IS MY ASSUMPTION OF THE THREE ROUND SCHEDULE:

Round 1: September 1st Contest Submission Period OPENS-contest rules and guidelines will open same day on the official site for entry novelists to review as they prepare to submit. There will be two separate categories for submissions each with their own rules to follow.

There will the ON-GOING SERIES CATEGORY, where a minimum of 35k words is nedded to qualify but given that the manuscript is meant to be an on-going series, novelists will be allowed to include chapters for the next few volumes or not. Either way only the first 60k words will be read by the contest preliminary round panel. A picth/outline for the next few volumes if not the entire series will also need to be provided WITHIN THE SAME FILE AS THE MANUSCRIPT under a seperate 10k word count. There should be no official structure for this series outline as it’s only purpose is to serve as a guide for the judge panelists to determine the flow of the story over time and help them decide if this is a series they would enjoy seeing continue as a larger production. It is also neccessary that there be character profiles listing the main cast and extra characters appearance, attributes, motives, desires, and aspirations. Listing what their role in the story is vital.

The ONE-OFF STORY CATEGORY, will also have a minimum of 35k words needed to qualify but can not exceed 100k. There should be no outline or character profiles needed as the manuscript should explore each of the main cast and extra characters’ identites thoroughly. The begining, middle, and end should be clear and concise, tying up all loose ends and exhaust sub plot materials. While there can be room to explore new plotlines in a potential sequel, novelists should be discouraged from leaving any openings that could leave the audience and characters with unresolved situations. It is crucial that novelists remember that entries for this category were meant to be single volume pieces with no hope of transforming it into an official series.

As the SUBMISSION PERIOD CLOSES on December 30th, and assuming that entries are read upon their or in order of submission date, we novelists can expect to hear the official announcement of our advancement to round 2 shortly after the deadline closes.

Round 2: Opening perhaps right after the official announcement of the first round winners, those winners will receive exclusive invitations to attend a meeting/seminar most likely virtually with the judge panelists. Receiving from them detailed notes on their entry and possibly work on their revision with another already debuted, professional writer. Only after resubmitting this piece will the panelists announce the advancing finalists around late May.

To succeed this stage of the judging process, novelists will need to take the panelist’s notes to heart. Novelists need to show significant if not still massive improvement in their revision to impress the judges who will already have their favorites for the winners in mind. Here is when originality, humility, and adapting will be key skills for your career in the industry.

NOTE that sometime within the second round period, ADVANCING NOEVLISTS WILL HAVE 30% OF THEIR WORK PUBLICALLY SHOWCASED ON THE OFFICAL J-NOVEL CLUB WEBSITE for the public to read and engage with. The reader’s digitally recorded engagement with the entry will factor in the judges’ final decisions for who the true finalists will be but it is safe to say that having your work publically shared under a global banner does increase your chances of gaining one of the TWELVE SPOTS AVAIBLE FOR WINNERS.

Round 3: With the second stage finalists having a potion of their works PUBLICALLY shared online, the announcements for who won which of the TWELVE avaible slots for winners will be annouced in early JULY. Possibly sooner for the finalists as in previous years, finalists have received exclusive invitations to attend the Anime Expo where they will be PUBLICALLY awarded (if not annoucened) in front of an audience.

NOTE that although their are twelve open spot avaible for winners: 1 GRAND PRIZE WINNER, 5 FIRST PLACE WINNERS, 5 RUNNER UPS, and 1 BOOK WALKER WINNER, the judges are under no obligation to fill each slot. Second round finalists who succeeded in having their work showcased officially online may not advance to the final round due to reader engagement or lack of improvement in story revisions.

LAST YEAR’S WINNERS consisted of three first place novelists, two runner ups, and one Book Walker winner. NO GRAND PRIZE WINNER was proclaimed.

THIS YEAR’S PRIZES CONSIST OF: 1 GRAND PRIZE=$15,000, 5 First Place Winners=$3,000, 5 Runner Up Winners=$1,000, and 1 Book Walker Winner=#2,500 all these slots come with company contracts, cash prizes that will also serve as an advance on the submitted novel, intentions of becoming official publications, potential manga adaptations, and exclusive illustrations of the submitted work.

MY NOVEL SUBMISSION PLAN:

With two weeks left to conclude my light novel I fully intend to submit my work before mid September so as to secure a good spot on the potential priority read list. I say mid September because the contest rules and guideline will not open till the very begining of September so it is important to read them thouroughly and then make any necessary final revisions after. Along with a final unrushed double check of my manuscript after said revisions are done.

NOTE that the more polished and UNPUBLISHED—(whether in print or in digital, all works shared for monetary value are immediataley disqualified)— my work is, the panel will still surely have notes for my work if I succeed to the second stage. “So don’t stress about any plot points or inconsistencies you remembered that your work may have right after you have already submitted it".”

To any who do make it to the second round however should remember to remove the piece from any platforms you may have already released it on. Whether you did so without intention or receiving money or not you can not continue to have your piece publically released as you progress in the contest. As someone who already has a small first chapter sneak peak already released on this-my very own website- I to will remove the passage so as not to incurr any reasons for disqualification once the contest begins. However I do intend to announce my succession to the second stage should I be chosen via flyer, social media, etc. Check back with me in late December on a later post where I’’l share my reader engagement plan.

Till then I hope we all succeed in making our light novelists dreams come true.