Headline Eternal and Curtis Brown Creative launch new romance fiction competition

A new competition, “Modern Stories: It Must Be Love,” is launching to discover and support emerging romance writers from underrepresented backgrounds in the United Kingdom. The initiative, a collaboration between Headline Eternal and Curtis Brown Creative (CBC), aims to uplift Black, Asian, mixed heritage, and/or multiple ethnic writers.

A Platform for New Voices

The competition, which is run in association with Hachette UK’s The Future Bookshelf programme, will begin accepting submissions on February 12th, 2026. It is open to UK residents aged 18 and over who have not previously been published or secured literary representation.

Did You Know? Entrants may submit up to 5,000 words of their novel, and completed manuscripts are not required for consideration.

The winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize and a place on CBC’s three-month “Writing Your Novel” course. They will also receive editorial mentoring and a meeting with Sheila Crowley, a literary agent at Curtis Brown.

Genre Focus and Judging

Submissions are welcomed across a range of adult commercial romance sub-genres, including romantic comedy, romantic drama, historical romance, and romantasy. The judging panel includes Soraya Bouazzaoui, senior commissioning editor at Headline Eternal, and Abby Parsons, senior courses manager and editor at CBC.

Also on the panel are authors Rufaro Faith Mazarura and Maame Blue, Caden Armstrong, founder of Book Lovers Bookshop, and Amy Beecham, books editor at Stylist magazine. Judges are looking for “brilliant voices, strong concepts and a compelling romance that takes centre stage.”

Expert Insight: This competition represents a focused effort to address representation within the romance genre, providing not only financial support but also crucial mentorship and access to industry professionals.

Soraya Bouazzaoui stated, “It’s a really exciting time for romance lovers – both as a reader and a writer – and it’s only going to get better.” Abby Parsons added, “I’m so looking forward to sharing this initiative with the CBC community and beyond, and I encourage anyone thinking about submitting to take the leap.”

The submission deadline is April 14th, 2026. More information about the prize and how to enter can be found on the Modern Stories website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the prize for the winner?

The winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize, a place on CBC’s three-month “Writing Your Novel” course, editorial mentoring sessions, and a meeting with Sheila Crowley, literary agent at Curtis Brown.

What types of romance novels are eligible for submission?

Submissions are welcomed from writers of adult commercial romantic fiction across sub-genres including romantic comedy, romantic drama, historical romance and romantasy.

When is the deadline for submissions?

The deadline for entries is April 14th, 2026.

Will this competition help to diversify the romance genre?