James Jones First Novel Fellowship

じぇーむず・じょーんず・ふぁーすと・のべる・ふぇろーしっぷ

Annual fellowship award for unpublished first full-length novels (work in progress allowed).

Debut novelFirst novel fellowshipFictionAmerican literary awards

創設年: 1992
主催: James Jones Literary Society / Co-sponsored by: Wilkes University
カテゴリー: 一般文芸・大衆小説
選考方式: Open call
受賞対象: 新人
開催頻度: 年1回
締切時期: 3月頃
発表時期: 9月頃
賞のステータス: 活動中

説明

The James Jones First Novel Fellowship was established in 1992. It is an annual award organized by the James Jones Literary Society and co-hosted by Wilkes University. It targets unpublished first full-length novels by American writers and evaluates the spirit of "unblinking honesty, determination, and insight into modern culture" embodied in Jones's works. As of 2025, the main prize is $12,000, with two additional $1,000 runner-up awards. The number of applications varies by year: 667 in 2011 and over 700 in 2021. There have been cases such as the 2004 award being revoked later. Winners are typically announced at the annual symposium and publicized on the official website and by the co-hosting university.

賞品

主賞品: Main award (Fellowship)
賞金: 12,000 USD

Two runner-up awards (each $1,000)
Attention from agents and publishers due to winning, presentation opportunities at the symposium

選考情報

選考プロセス

段階	審査員	通過率	発表
Application / Preliminary screening	Preliminary screening is primarily conducted by the committee of the James Jones Literary Society and affiliates of Wilkes University. Guest judges may participate depending on the year.	Very low pass rate relative to the number of applications (e.g., less than a few percent)	Preliminary screening passers are notified internally. Final decisions are announced at the annual symposium. Announcements available on the official website.
Final selection	Final selection is conducted by the selection committee and invited judges to determine 1 main prize winner and a few runner-ups. The panel varies each year.	Extremely low (single-digit percentages), as ultimately 1 main prize and 2 runner-ups are selected	Winners are announced at the annual symposium and publicized on the official website and by co-hosting organizations.
Post-award handling (publication / introduction)	Not applicable. Post-award publication and agent introductions are often negotiated individually with winners.	—	Publication and commercial developments depend on individual negotiations and are not announced collectively as official procedures.

Application / Preliminary screening

審査員 Preliminary screening is primarily conducted by the committee of the James Jones Literary Society and affiliates of Wilkes University. Guest judges may participate depending on the year.

通過率 Very low pass rate relative to the number of applications (e.g., less than a few percent)

発表 Preliminary screening passers are notified internally. Final decisions are announced at the annual symposium. Announcements available on the official website.

Final selection

審査員 Final selection is conducted by the selection committee and invited judges to determine 1 main prize winner and a few runner-ups. The panel varies each year.

通過率 Extremely low (single-digit percentages), as ultimately 1 main prize and 2 runner-ups are selected

発表 Winners are announced at the annual symposium and publicized on the official website and by co-hosting organizations.

Post-award handling (publication / introduction)

審査員 Not applicable. Post-award publication and agent introductions are often negotiated individually with winners.

発表 Publication and commercial developments depend on individual negotiations and are not announced collectively as official procedures.

選考基準

Must be an unpublished first full-length novel (debut novel)
Must embody the spirit of James Jones (honesty, determination, insight into modern culture)
Originality of style, story structure, character portrayal, and overall completeness as a work
Meets the application requirements (primarily targeting U.S. writers)

応募のヒント

推奨

Strictly adhere to application guidelines and format (page count, submission format)
Confirm that it is an unpublished first full-length novel
Revise and edit with emphasis on strong expression (voice) that draws readers from the opening
Prepare synopsis and required documents clearly
Confirm eligibility (targeting U.S. writers) in advance

注意

Do not submit works already published as books
Do not submit in formats violating rules or past the deadline
Do not submit the same work multiple times
Do not send overly self-promotional supplementary materials with the application (avoid unauthorized attachments)

審査員から

Keep in mind "the spirit of unblinking honesty, determination, and insight into modern culture" and demonstrate an honest perspective and solid voice.
Narrative voice and sincerity are key. Show originality beyond mere formal completeness.
Submitting according to the regulations is a basic condition for judging.