Submission Guidelines

The Carlini Prize 2028 · Casa Carlini

Submission Guidelines

Everything you need to submit your manuscript

Inaugural Carlini Prize 2028 · Submissions open 15 January 2028

Deadline Submissions close 31 July 2028 at 11:59 PM EDT. The timestamp recorded by the submission platform at the moment of receipt is definitive. Late submissions will not be considered under any circumstances.

Overview

Before you submit

These guidelines apply to the Inaugural Carlini Prize 2028. Entrants are responsible for reading them in full before submitting. Submission of a manuscript constitutes acceptance of these guidelines and the Official Contest Rules in their entirety.

If these guidelines and the Official Contest Rules conflict on any point, the Official Contest Rules govern. For any question not addressed here, contact prize@casacarlini.com before the submission deadline.

Read the Official Contest Rules →

Entry Fees

Submission periods and fees

Entry fees vary by submission period. Submit early to take advantage of the Early Bird rate.

Early Bird

$55

15 Jan – 31 Mar 2028

Standard

$65

1 Apr – 30 Jun 2028

Late

$75

1 Jul – 31 Jul 2028

Entry fees are non-refundable under all circumstances, including withdrawal, disqualification, or cancellation of the competition. Payment is processed securely via Stripe. Entrants may submit in both categories; each requires a separate fee and entry form.

Select your category

Entrants must select one category at the time of submission. You may submit in both categories, provided each submission is a distinct manuscript accompanied by a separate entry fee and entry form.

Fiction

Novels, short story collections, literary fiction, historical fiction, and crime, mystery, or suspense fiction of exceptional literary quality.

Nonfiction

History, biography, memoir, science, current affairs, cultural criticism, narrative journalism, and other works of narrative nonfiction intended for a general readership.

Eligibility

Who and what may enter

To be eligible, an entrant and their manuscript must meet all of the following conditions. Submissions that fail any condition will be disqualified without notice and without refund.

✓The entrant is aged 18 or older at the time of submission
✓The entrant may be of any nationality and resident in any country
✓The manuscript is written in English
✓The manuscript is complete at the time of submission
✓The manuscript is the original, sole work of the submitting author
✗The manuscript has not been previously published in any form, including self-publication in print or digital format, personal or commercial websites, or as an e-book
✗The manuscript has not been accepted for publication by any publisher at the time of submission
✗Co-authored manuscripts are not eligible
✗The entrant is not a current or former employee of Casa Carlini, nor an immediate family member or household member of a Casa Carlini employee
✗The entrant has not previously won or placed as a runner-up in a prior Carlini Prize cycle
✗The entrant is not a current or former student of any individual serving as a judge in the current cycle

Note Manuscripts under active consideration by a publisher at submission are eligible, provided they remain unpublished through the announcement of results. Entrants must notify Casa Carlini promptly at prize@casacarlini.com if a submitted manuscript is accepted for publication during the competition cycle.

Word Count

Manuscript length requirements

Manuscripts outside the permitted word count range for their category will not be considered. Word count should be entered on the entry form; it need not appear in the manuscript file itself.

Fiction — Novel 60,000 words 120,000 words

Fiction — Short Story Collection 40,000 words 100,000 words

Nonfiction 50,000 words 120,000 words

Manuscript Format

How to prepare your manuscript

Manuscripts that do not conform to the following requirements may be disqualified without notice. Format your manuscript before uploading — the submission portal does not reformat files.

File format Microsoft Word (.docx) or PDF

Font 12-point Times New Roman or Garamond

Line spacing Double-spaced throughout

Margins One inch on all sides

Page numbers Bottom centre

Header Manuscript title only — no author name or identifying information

Title page A title page bearing the manuscript title only is acceptable. Do not include author name, acknowledgements, dedications, or contact information.

Blind review All manuscripts are reviewed anonymously. Remove all identifying information — author name, acknowledgements, dedications, institution, agent details — from the manuscript file before submission. Any identifying information found in the manuscript file may result in disqualification.

What to Send

Your complete submission package

A complete submission consists of four elements. Submissions missing any element will not be considered.

01
Required
Manuscript file

A single document in .docx or PDF format, formatted as described above. The file must contain no identifying author information. File name should be the manuscript title only — do not include your name in the file name.
02
Required
Synopsis

A prose synopsis of 250–400 words submitted as a separate document. For Fiction, describe the narrative arc, principal characters, and what distinguishes the manuscript from comparable published works. For Nonfiction, describe the subject, scope, argument, intended readership, and what distinguishes it from comparable works. The synopsis must contain no identifying author information.
03
Required
Completed entry form

Submitted via the Carlini Prize portal at CasaCarlini.com. The form requires: full name, email address, telephone number, country of residence, manuscript title, category, word count, and a brief author biography of no more than 150 words. The biography is used for winner announcements only and is not shared with judges.
04
Required
Signed eligibility statement

Submitted via the entry form, confirming: (a) the manuscript is the entrant's original, unpublished work; (b) the entrant has read and agrees to be bound by the Official Contest Rules; and (c) the entrant consents to the use of their personally identifying information for the purposes of administering and promoting the prize.

How to Submit

Step-by-step submission process

Prepare your manuscript

Format your manuscript according to the requirements above. Remove all identifying information from the manuscript file and the synopsis. Save the manuscript file with the title only as the file name.

Visit the submission portal

Go to CasaCarlini.com and click Submit Your Manuscript to access the Carlini Prize portal. Create an account if you do not already have one.

Select your category

Choose Fiction or Nonfiction. If submitting in both categories, complete two separate submissions, each with its own manuscript, synopsis, entry form, and entry fee.

Complete the entry form

Fill in all required fields, including your name, contact details, manuscript title, word count, and author biography. Upload your manuscript file and synopsis as separate documents.

Sign the eligibility statement

Confirm your eligibility and agreement to the Official Contest Rules by checking the eligibility statement on the entry form. This step is mandatory.

Pay the entry fee

Entry fees are processed securely via Stripe. The applicable fee is determined by the date of submission. Fees are non-refundable.

Confirm receipt

You will receive an automated confirmation email within 24 hours of a successful submission. If you do not receive confirmation within 24 hours, contact prize@casacarlini.com before the submission deadline. Do not resubmit without contacting us first.

Important Submissions sent by email or post will not be accepted. All submissions must be made through the portal at CasaCarlini.com. Proof of transmission does not constitute proof of receipt.

Judging

How manuscripts are assessed

All eligible manuscripts are read in full by the judging panel. Judging proceeds in four rounds corresponding to the longlist, shortlist, finalists, and winners. All panel members are bound by a confidentiality agreement and a conflict of interest policy. Judging decisions are final and binding at all stages.

Casa Carlini does not provide individual feedback on submissions that do not advance beyond the longlist. Runner-up recipients receive a formal editorial report as part of their prize.

Manuscripts are assessed on six criteria:

01Intellectual and cultural relevance
02Originality of vision
03Excellence of writing
04Clarity of structure
05Seriousness of purpose
06Long-term significance and readership potential

15 January 2028 Submissions open

31 July 2028 Submission deadline

September 2028 Longlist announced

October 2028 Shortlist announced

November 2028 Finalists announced

December 2028 Winners and Grand Prize announced

Rights & Publication

What submission means for your rights

You retain full copyright

Submission does not transfer any rights to Casa Carlini. Authors retain full copyright in their work at all stages of the competition.

Promotion

Limited promotional use

By submitting, you grant Casa Carlini the right to use your name, brief biography, and manuscript title in prize-related communications and promotional materials.

Publication

Publication guarantee

Casa Carlini guarantees that at least one winning manuscript will receive a publication offer, subject to customary editorial review and contract terms. Any publication agreement is negotiated separately.

Fellows Program

Development pathway

Selected finalists may be invited to join the Casa Carlini Fellows Program. Participation does not constitute a publication offer or commitment.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can I submit a manuscript that is currently with a literary agent? +

Yes. Having a literary agent does not affect eligibility. The only restriction is that the manuscript must remain unpublished at the time of submission and through the announcement of results.

Can I submit a manuscript that is under consideration by a publisher? +

Yes, provided the manuscript has not been accepted for publication at the time of submission. If it is accepted during the competition cycle, you must notify Casa Carlini promptly at prize@casacarlini.com.

Can I submit in both Fiction and Nonfiction? +

Yes, provided each submission is a distinct, complete manuscript. Each requires a separate entry form and entry fee. You may not submit the same manuscript in both categories.

My manuscript was posted on my personal blog. Is it eligible? +

No. Publication on a personal website, blog, or any publicly accessible online platform constitutes prior publication. The manuscript is not eligible.

Can I revise my manuscript after submission? +

No. Once a submission has been received and payment confirmed, the manuscript may not be replaced or revised. Please ensure your manuscript is final before submitting.

Will I receive feedback on my manuscript? +

Casa Carlini does not provide individual feedback on submissions that do not advance beyond the longlist stage. Runner-up recipients receive a formal editorial report as part of their prize. Category and Grand Prize winners receive a dedicated editorial development process.

How will I know if my manuscript has been longlisted or shortlisted? +

Longlisted, shortlisted, and finalist writers will be notified by email before each public announcement. All entrants will also receive an email notification when results are announced at each stage.

Is the prize open to writers outside the United States? +

Yes. The Carlini Prize is open internationally to writers of any nationality resident in any country, provided the manuscript is written in English and all other eligibility requirements are met.

What happens if I do not receive a confirmation email? +

Contact prize@casacarlini.com as soon as possible and before the submission deadline. Do not resubmit without contacting us first, as duplicate submissions may result in disqualification.

Can I withdraw my submission? +

You may withdraw your manuscript at any time before the announcement of the longlist by contacting prize@casacarlini.com. Entry fees are non-refundable upon withdrawal.