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Liverpool’s longest-running novel writing competition is back, and this year, it’s bigger than ever! Following a record-breaking 105 submissions last year, Writing on the Wall (WoW) is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and 2025 is set to be our best year yet.
Aspiring novelists across the Liverpool City Region are invited to submit their first chapter for a chance to be discovered by top literary agents, publishers, and renowned authors – with the opportunity to get published. This competition offers an exceptional platform for emerging talent to showcase their creativity and originality. Finalists advancing to the Grand Final in January 2025 will have their first chapters featured in the Pulp Idol 2025 – Firsts anthology, which will launch during WoWFEST in May 2025. This anthology will be distributed to literary agents and publishers throughout the UK, providing invaluable exposure and networking opportunities.
Over the past seventeen years, Pulp Idol has achieved tremendous success, with many former finalists going on to have their debut novels published by both mainstream and independent publishers. Notable authors include Ashleigh Nugent (author of Locks, Picador), Philippa Holloway (author of The Half Life of Snails, Parthian Books), Ariel Khan (author of Raising Sparks, Bluemoose Books), James Rice (author of Alice and the Fly, Hodder & Stoughton), and many others.
“Pulp Idol has connected me with a vibrant literary community, introducing me to renowned authors, agents, and industry professionals. As my network expands, so does my craft, with tailored workshops and mentoring sessions to enhance my skills. If you’re an aspiring writer seeking to unveil your voice to the world, I highly recommend entering Pulp Idol. ” – Addae Gaskin, winner of Pulp Idol 2023
“Writing on the Wall’s Pulp Idol is a uniquely successful novel writing competition that, over the past sixteen years, has given working-class writers from the region’s diverse communities a platform for their work, putting them directly in front of agents and publishers. Many writers, including Ashleigh Nugent, Philippa Holloway, James Rice, Deborah Morgan, and Matt Cook, have signed deals with high-profile publishers and now have their debut novels on sale in bookshops across the country. I would encourage writers across the region to submit their novel to the competition—it’s a great, friendly process, from which all writers, whether they reach the final or not, will benefit.” Mike Morris, Co-Director of Writing on the Wall and Pulp Idol founder
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