You’ve polished your manuscript until it shines. Now comes the big question: when you enter writing contests for unpublished authors 2026, which category do you pick? Thriller? Historical? Romance? If you get it wrong, even a brilliant story might fall flat with the judges.
Choosing the right category in a manuscript competition 2026 isn’t just about ticking a box. It’s about putting your work in front of the right set of eyes — the judges who love, read, and represent your genre.
Why Categories Matter
- Judge expertise – Contests assign manuscripts to judges who specialise in certain genres. Wrong category = wrong judge.
- Reader expectations – A romance entered as general fiction might be judged as “too romantic” instead of being celebrated.
- Agent attraction – Many contests (like the Page Turner Awards) invite literary agents to judge. They’ll only request manuscripts in genres they actually represent.
- Fair competition – Categories help judges compare apples to apples — not thrillers to cookbooks.
Common Contest Categories in 2026
- Romance / Historical Romance
- Thriller / Crime / Mystery
- Fantasy / Sci-Fi
- Historical Fiction
- Literary Fiction
- Non-Fiction / Memoir
Some competitions even get quirky with categories like Best Logline, Most Intriguing Title, or Best Adaptation Pitch.
Mistakes Writers Make with Categories
- Wishful thinking: Entering your light rom-com as “literary fiction” because you think it sounds more serious.
- Genre-blindness: Every manuscript has a dominant genre. Claiming “it’s all of them!” confuses judges.
- Trend-chasing: Picking “fantasy” because it’s hot, even though your story is clearly contemporary drama.
How to Pick the Right Contest Category
- Read the definitions – Most contests explain what each category covers.
- Ask yourself: What do I read most? Often, the genre you consume is the one you’re writing.
- Check comps – What books are similar to yours? How are they categorised?
- Use critiques – If available, contests with manuscript critiques can confirm if you’ve nailed the right fit.
- Trust your gut – If your protagonist is kissing by chapter two, you’re probably writing romance.
Testimonial Spotlight
“I had a great experience with the 2023 Writing Award. I had always heard that writing contests are mostly scams, but the Page Turner Awards is definitely not! My novel was shortlisted and I had a publisher request my full manuscript (which is something that I have yet to achieve through traditional methods.” — Ben Alvord - Writing Entrant
Wrapping Up: Don’t Break the Judges’ Hearts
Picking the right category isn’t about boxing yourself in. It’s about guiding judges, agents, and readers to appreciate your story for what it truly is. Entering writing awards for new authors 2026 in the wrong lane is like giving Shakespeare’s Hamlet to a romance judge. Wrong expectations, wrong feedback.
The Page Turner Awards make this easier with clear categories and industry feedback that ensures your manuscript lands in the right hands. Check the experiences of past entrants here: https://pageturnerawards.com/awards-testimonials.
Not sure where your manuscript belongs? Sign up today, and we’ll notify you when next year’s Writing Award opens — complete with clear categories to help your story shine in the right place.
Sign up today and we’ll send you reminders for next year’s deadlines, so you never miss a chance to shine.
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