Prizes

STORIES THAT STICK: GIVE US CHILLS

A new competition for authors looking to reach a global audience spanning across books and screen.

Peters Fraser + Dunlop is one of the longest-established literary and talent agencies in London. We develop industry-leading work in the fields of literature, film, television, radio, audio, public speaking, digital platforms and journalism. We work closely with our clients to connect them with the right partners, across the media, while protecting their rights every step of the way. Our business is about creativity, enhancement, innovation and service. We believe in developing and nurturing talent over time, while also pursuing cutting-edge opportunities in a fast-paced and ever-changing market. Our list is a testament to almost a hundred years of long-term vision and creative excellence.

It is this ambitious approach to story-telling that has inspired the launch of our ‘Stories that Stick’ competition with a focus on finding great stories that can translate across formats with a particular emphasis on book to screen.

We are keen to find a great author who can amaze us with an incredible voice, writing and premise. The launch of our ‘Stories That Stick’ competition is open for adult novels with the theme of ‘Give Us Chills’. That can be anything from domestic psychological suspense to high-concept thriller. We’d love to see stories with characters we can’t forget, intrigue that keeps us turning every page and endings that shock.

Books we’ve enjoyed recently include The Death of Us by Abigail Dean, The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden, All Her Fault by Andrea Mara and The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides.

PRIZE
The top three entries will be selected by the Peters, Fraser + Dunlop Literary Agency for the shortlist. A winner will be chosen by Sarah Hornsley and Rosie Gurtovoy, and they will receive a prize of £500 and an offer of representation by the agency. All three shortlisted entries will receive comprehensive written feedback from the agency.

We will offer representation to entrants whose writing we love. If you are offered representation by another agency while the competition is running, please let us know and we will withdraw your entry.

ELIGIBILITY
To enter, you must be un-agented and the work submitted must be unpublished (work from which an extract has been published in a literary magazine is fine). The prize is open to writers from anywhere in the world, but the work must be written in English.

HOW TO ENTER

Entries should be sent to prize@pfd.co.uk

Entries are open from Friday 1st May and the closing date is 5th June. The shortlist will be announced on 26th June with the winner to be revealed on 10th July 2026.

We ask for a cover letter including a brief author bio with contact details, one-page synopsis, and a full manuscript to be submitted (or a minimum of 30,000 words if the novel is nearing completion).