The Society of Women Writers and Journalists
in memory of romance/saga author and SWWJ member
Elaine Everest
1953–2024
is proud to present
THE ELAINE EVEREST MEMORIAL
SAGA WRITING COMPETITION
for the opening chapter of an unpublished saga novel
set at any time between 1910 and 1960. Maximum 3000 words.
First Prize: £200 and your name engraved on our beautiful silver trophy.
The winner will also receive one year’s free RNA membership kindly donated by the Romantic Novelists’ Association.
Second prize: £100. Third prize: £50.
To be judged by a panel of award-winning saga authors:
Jean Fullerton, Lizzie Lane, Francesca Capaldi.
Closing date: 14 February 2026
Trophy sponsored by: Michael Everest
First cash prize sponsored by: Caroline Sheldon, literary agent
Further cash prizes and awards ceremony sponsored by: Pan Macmillan
Entry fee: £7 (reduced to £5 for SWWJ members)
Please email your entry as a Word .doc or .docx attachment to:
vivienhampshire@btinternet.com
All competition enquiries to the same address please.
This competition is open to all writers, both published and unpublished, aged 18 or over. Saga fiction only. No other genres considered. Don’t forget to give your entry a title. Please do not identify yourself on your entry, but provide contact details in the body of your email. Fee payment options will be provided upon receipt of entry. SWWJ members: please quote your membership number to claim the reduced fee. All winners retain copyright but must agree to the publication of their name and an extract of their work in the SWWJ Journal, website and via social media. There is no obligation to complete your novel. The trophy will be presented to the winner at an awards ceremony in London in Summer 2026 but will subsequently remain in the ownership and possession of the SWWJ.
What defines a good saga?
Strong female characters; a cast of family, colleagues or friends that crosses the generations; a sense of community; a clear regional location and time period; challenges or hardships to be overcome; a hint of romance….
Read Elaine’s Woolworths or Teashop Girls books for inspiration!