2023 FIRST GRAPHIC NOVEL AWARD

The 2023 First Graphic Novel Award is for debut authors: comics creators, cartoonists, or writers and artists who have not previously had a full-length graphic novel published.

The winner will be offered a contract by SelfMadeHero to complete their work for publication, and will also be awarded a £500 cash prize sponsored by The bks Agency.

The Award aims to encourage emerging talent of any age, 18+, and is an amazing opportunity for would-be graphic novelists at any stage in their career.

The Award is a partnership between the Cartoon Museum, the publisher SelfMadeHero, and independent graphic novel editor Corinne Pearlman, former Creative Director at Myriad Editions, with thanks to generous support from the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) and The bks Agency, sponsors of a £500 bursary for the winning entry.

The Award is open for submission until midnight 14 September 2023.

The Award asks authors to submit 15-30 pages of a graphic novel in progress, fiction or non-fiction. A panel of judges will select a longlist and shortlist. A selected author or team will be awarded £500 bursary sponsored by The bks Agency. They will be offered a contract by SelfMadeHero including an advance against royalties, and given editorial and design support to complete their work for publication.

The judges include graphic novel editors Ayoola Solarin and Corinne Pearlman, artist Mark Wallinger, Cartoon Museum Learning & Outreach Officer Steve Marchant, broadcast journalist Alex Fitch, graphic novelist Sabba Khan, author of the award-winning The Roles We Play (shortlisted, 2018), and Emma Hayley, Director, SelfMadeHero. James Spackman at The bks Agency will review the longlisted creators’ work.

The award was founded by Myriad Editions in 2012 as the Myriad First Graphic Novel Competition. As well as publishing books by the four finalists, Myriad has also published six other shortlisted authors.

With thanks to the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (LICAF) and Thought Bubble Festival and the many cartoonist and comic creator networks, fairs and festivals, and individual creators supporting the call for entry.

For details of how to enter and to download an entry form, visit www.firstgraphicnovel.co.uk.

WHAT WE ARE OFFERING

The winner will be offered a contract by SelfMadeHero to develop their work-in-progress with a creative and editorial team, including an advance against royalties and schedule for publication.

Longlisted and shortlisted authors will receive feedback from the judges and have their entries reviewed by the bks agency.

Longlisted entrants will be announced and their work displayed at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (29 September – 1 October 2023).

Shortlisted entrants will be announced and their work displayed at the Thought Bubble Festival (10-12 November 2023).

The winner will be announced at an award ceremony on 7 December 2023.