Thank you for your interest in Reedsy's month-long novel writing challenge. These Terms of Use set out important information applicable to the Challenge, so please read them carefully.
This Challenge is operated and promoted by Reedsy Limited ("Reedsy," "we," "us," "our"), a company incorporated in England with registered number 08841985 and whose address is 483 Green Lanes, London N13 4BS. By entering the Challenge, you agree to accept and be bound by these Terms of Use. All entry instructions form part of these Terms of Use.
In these Terms of Use:
Reedsy means "us," "we," or "our."
The entrant means "the author," "you," "your," or "user."
The Challenge means Reedsy's November novel writing challenge, also known as the Reedsy Novel Sprint.
Studio means Reedsy Studio, which participants must use to join and track their progress.
The Challenge
The Challenge runs annually during the month of November.
To enter the Challenge, participants must write at least 50,000 words of a new, original manuscript in Reedsy Studio between 1 November 2025 at 00:00 AM EST and 30 November 2025 at 23:59 PM EST ("Closing Date").
Entries are submitted free of charge. Entries that are illegible, incomplete, corrupted, automatically generated, or which fail to be received by the Closing Date for any reason will not be considered. Reedsy is not responsible for the content submitted to the Challenge. Reedsy accepts no responsibility for entries delayed, lost, or not properly recorded.
At the end of the Challenge, the Reedsy team will review all eligible entries, and judge them based on their first chapter (between 1,000-3,000 words) to elaborate a shortlist of ten, from which three main prize-winners will be determined.
To be eligible for the main prizes and the shortlist of ten, entrants must have started their manuscript in the month of November and written at least 50,000 new words on Reedsy Studio. They cannot start drafting their manuscript before November 1, 2025.
The Prizes
Prizes will be awarded as follows:
First place: USD $5,000 and an agent introductory meeting (note: this does not guarantee agent representation).
Second place: USD $2,500 and an agent introductory meeting (note: this does not guarantee agent representation).
Third place: USD $1,000 and an agent introductory meeting (note: this does not guarantee agent representation).
Fourth to tenth place: 7 additional runners-up will receive e-readers from our sponsors.
All entrants who complete the Challenge (authors who write at least 50,000 words in Reedsy Studio by the Closing Date): Free 3 months' access to Reedsy Studio's premium add-ons.
There are no alternative prizes. Prizes are not transferable. Prizes will be paid via bank transfer. Reedsy may require you to provide proof that you are eligible to enter the Challenge. Reedsy may add additional prizes from time to time.
Events beyond Reedsy's control may render awarding a prize impossible; in such cases, Reedsy reserves the right, at its absolute discretion, to vary, amend, or suspend the prize.
Shortlisted writers will be notified within 90 days of the Closing Date. The winners of the first, second, and third prize must claim their respective prize(s) within 5 business days of notification. If unclaimed, the prize will lapse and may be offered to a substitute winner.
Entering the Challenge
Only one entry per person is permitted. No entrant may win more than one prize.
To participate in the Challenge, you must:
Be registered with Reedsy Studio.
Draft your novel within Reedsy Studio during the Challenge period.
Reach a verified word count of at least 50,000 words in Reedsy Studio by the Closing Date. Only words written (not copy-pasted) in Studio will count.
Entries must be original work written by the user in English, not previously published elsewhere in print or online, and must not infringe the copyright or intellectual property rights of any other party. Reedsy accepts no responsibility if entrants fail to abide by these Terms of Use, and entrants agree to indemnify Reedsy against any claim by any third party arising from any breach of these terms of use.
While entries can include mature themes and language, they must not contain defamatory, obscene, graphic, explicit, offensive, or any other such unsuitable material, as well as any form of promotion of a product, company, or service not owned by Reedsy. Reedsy reserves the right to disqualify entries containing such matter.
By entering the Challenge, entrants agree that they will not copy-paste from previously written material. Reedsy Studio is designed to detect duplicate content, and any such submissions will be disqualified. Entrants are expected to create original content specifically for the Challenge.
Furthermore, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in generating any part of an entrant's submission will result in automatic disqualification. All entries must be the sole creation of the entrant and must not involve the use of AI or other automated writing tools.
Entrants under the age of 18 may participate in the Challenge but are not eligible to receive prizes. They are, however, eligible to receive 3 months access to Reedsy Studio's premium features upon completion of the Challenge.
Judging
The judging panel will solely consist of Reedsy employees, contractors, and other individuals chosen at Reedsy's sole discretion.
The shortlist of ten will be selected based on quality, originality, and completion. From this shortlist, the panel will select the three main prize-winners.
The decision of the judging panel is final. No correspondence or discussion will be entered into, except with first, second, and third place winners.
Copyright
Each entrant retains copyright in their entry. Entrants warrant that their work is their wholly-owned creation, that any third-party materials used are cleared, and that no deliberate attempt has been made to model fictional characters on real individuals. Entrants agree to indemnify Reedsy against claims that their entry infringes another's rights.
Privacy and Data
We will use any personal information that you give us in accordance with the law and our Privacy Policy, for the purposes of the Challenge, in the ways described in these Terms of Use, and for any marketing or other purposes you may indicate your consent to.
You agree that we may also share your details with our judging panel, with your consent. As described above, winning entries may have their name publicised for promotional purposes without additional compensation.
All the Rest
Reedsy may disqualify any entrant who breaches these Terms of Use or who, in our sole determination, has acted fraudulently, dishonestly, or unjustly towards other entrants, including but not limited to tampering, cheating, harassment, or use of multiple accounts.
We are not liable for any damage, loss, or disappointment suffered by entrants arising out of or in connection with this Challenge.
In the event of unforeseen circumstances, we may alter, amend or stop running the Challenge without prior notice. We reserve the right to change these terms at any time.
