FDP Catholic Fiction Contest – Official Rules

Overview

Falling Dusk Publishing is pleased to announce the opening of their Catholic Fiction Contest. Two winners will be selected and each will receive a $500 prize to assist with editing, cover design, marketing, or any other publishing/writing related expenses.

Eligibility

• Open to self-published authors or those with completed manuscripts who are preparing to self-publish.
• Work must be of novel length, no short stories please, and may be of any genre but must be geared toward a Young Adult audience or older.
• All entries must be a clean read that portrays the beauty of the Catholic faith—either explicitly or implicitly.
• Open to writers of all ages and experience, but if you have more than 5 published novels please do not enter. The goal is to help writers get established.
• Manuscripts do not need to be fully edited, but must be easy to read, so some editing is highly recommended.
• Authors do not need to have a cover, reviews, or a following to enter.
• Stories should be well-crafted with exciting plots and well-formed characters.

Prizes

• Two winners will each receive $500.
• Prize money is intended to be used for professional services such as editing, cover design, or marketing.

Submission Guidelines

• Entries must be submitted in full manuscript form (no partials).
• Authors must include a short bio and a brief statement on how their faith guides their writing.
• No prior publishing accolades, reviews, or marketing history required.
• Submission deadline: Monday, September 1, 2025, 11:59 PM EST
• We will notify you on Monday, December 1, 2025 if you have been chosen.
• All manuscripts must be submitted via the submission form.

Further Questions or Issues with Submission

Email Kalynn Franklin