Serendipity Literary Agency's 9th Annual Young Adult Discovery Contest

No Query? No Pitch? No Problem!
Do you have a YA novel—or a YA novel idea—tucked away for a rainy day? Have you been putting off pitching your idea simply because you’re not sure how to pitch an agent? No problem! All you have to do is submit the first 250 words of your novel and you can win exposure to editors and a critique of your manuscript by one of New York’s top literary agents, Regina Brooks.

Regina Brooks is the CEO of Serendipity Literary Agency and the author of the award-winning book Writing Great Books For Young Adults, now available in its second edition.

In honor of National Novel Writing Month—an international event where aspiring novelists are encouraged to write an entire novel in 30 days—this contest is meant to encourage the aspiring YA author to get started on that novel by offering an incentive for completing the first 250 words.

Here's How It Works

Entering the contest is easy and the rules are simple. Entries are to be submitted via the contest website. Valid entries shall include the title and only the first 250 words of the manuscript.


One entry per person; anyone age 14+ can apply. There is a $15 entry fee. Open to the US and Canada (void where prohibited). Entries will be accepted from 12:01 a.m. (ET) November 1, 2018 to 11:59 p.m. (ET) November 30, 2018.


YA literary agent Regina Brooks and her team will read all of the entries and determine the top 20 submissions. These submissions will then be read by editors at some of the top publishing houses (who will be announced as we get closer to the contest). These judges will whittle the top 20 down to five winners, including a Grand Prize Winner.

Great Prizes

The Grand Prize Winner will have the opportunity to receive a full manuscript critique from Regina Brooks, plus a collection of gourmet teas from Possibiliteas!


The Top Five Entrants (including the Grand Prize Winner) will receive a 15-minute, one-on-one pitch session with Regina Brooks. They will also receive commentary on their submissions from editors at HarperCollins; Little, Brown; Macmillan; Skyhorse; Simon and Schuster; Abrams Books; Penguin Random House; Disney; and James Patterson’s new imprint, JIMMY Patterson.

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