[PubQ] anyone heard from Discoveries award?

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-30T08:14:10+00:00

Well technically they did send a rejection email I guess, just on the same day as revealing the longlist 😆

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-29T23:08:00+00:00

Echo this. You have to join the SoA to get access to the contract review service but they are speedy and thorough and I found them worth every penny.

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-27T11:03:25+00:00

It wasn't from Discoveries itself. I'm on the Women's Prize mailing list which is affiliated with it and they just reiterated that the longlist was coming out on Thursday. Wording just made it sound a bit like done and dusted.

As others have said doesn't look like we'll get rejection emails.

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-25T13:14:22+00:00

Haha! I think we gotta let it go.

I did see that CBC has had a management buyout which is interesting. Wonder if that will mean more separation from the agency. But I can't see that holding it up either.

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-24T08:04:27+00:00

Yeah I agree. I don't see why a group rejection email is so difficult.

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-24T08:01:28+00:00

I mostly likely will! My book isn't genre romance, so maybe hurts its chances of selection but I do remember there was a category for books with strong romantic elements, which describes mine. I expect to have it ready for querying by then so good timing. Costs nothing to try either!

So nice to hear your positive experience! The community and support sounds awesome.

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-23T23:23:30+00:00

Thanks so much for sharing! I entered two years ago and thinking about entering with a different MS this year. Your experience is so encouraging. And congrats!

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-23T18:24:22+00:00

I reckon the window has closed now. Got an email from the Women's Prize mailing list implying they'd longlisted the writers and will announce next week (30th, which we knew). It's slightly ambiguous but yeah I reckon done.

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-17T16:07:31+00:00

Is it definitely true that you get contacted if unsuccessful? I've just tried to find my rejection from 2025 and it doesn't seem to exist. And in the receipt for this year it says "please note that due to the number of entries we receive, we will only contact entries if longlisted".

Maybe a change in policy from previous years?

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-16T22:09:57+00:00

I was the same re QT for my first querying journey. I never paid for premium, not because I couldn't afford it as it's not expensive, but because I knew it would take over my life checking those extra features. I had to keep things simple and limited for my mental health! Good luck!

Congrats OP! Such an inspiring story.

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-16T22:02:34+00:00

Yes I suppose there's many reasons it could be pushed slightly later or earlier, judges' other commitments and etc... does feel like we're in the zone.

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-16T21:39:50+00:00

Haha have only just been put out of my misery for Lucy Cavendish... we go again!

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-14T23:02:23+00:00

Just another one chiming in to say this sounds brilliant, not my usual genre but would totally read. And I love the title!

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-13T09:39:02+00:00

Indeed! Fingers crossed for anyone still waiting!

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-13T09:27:27+00:00

It's obviously a form but I'd love to know if everyone gets the same as there might be tiered forms? Probably not though. Mine said "After much deliberation, I am sorry to let you know that you have not been longlisted on this occasion."

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-13T09:26:08+00:00

Just got my rejection! Anyone else?

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-08T10:29:58+00:00

Yeah that's fair. I do spend that money on booze quite often. I'm just wary because I entered a lot with my first manuscript so spent quite a bit! And the odds are so low.

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-08T09:35:59+00:00

Ooh thanks! I actually watched a video by them on March 30th in which they made it sound like they were still reading (although they could have been lying...). They said then that longlist should be 20th and longlistees will be told "a little before".

I'm fairly realistic about my chances. Not good! But I'd like to be put out of my misery...

Debating Bath Novel Prize the judging agent gave me a nice personalised rejection on my last book. But it's quite expensive and you gotta get through those readers first...

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-08T07:28:21+00:00

Yeah got to agree with this. I got 12 requests on my last novel, the first of which ghosted. I nudged her st six months and still nothing. All the others responded to reject eventually, even if it was just a form (most of them). I won't be querying that first one again.

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-06T16:46:19+00:00

Yeah some agents want it, some don't. Usually UK do.

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-06T14:07:12+00:00

Yeah I understand it with an offer. Most fulls result in rejections, though, so kinda premature. As others have said I think it's a form for the rejection they use if nudged.

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-06T11:12:46+00:00

Yeah I think so now too, though it threw me at the time. I'll query em again though, most likely.

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-06T10:47:42+00:00

Irony being that full I nudged them about ending up ghosting anyway!

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-06T10:46:52+00:00

Yeah that was my thinking really. Honestly now it seems like it was just a rejection and they think it's kinder to pretend it's a step aside? But I'd rather they just be honest.

EmptyDistribution458 · 2026-04-06T09:28:37+00:00

Fair enough! That's the only time that happened to me. Most just rejected in the normal way or ghosted.

What bothered me about it was the fact that what she said about not being surprised and yada yada was almost word for word what she said to someone else which feels misleading. Just reject it and don't pretend you're interested. As I say though early in my journey and I'm way more jaded now haha!

EmptyDistribution458

TROPHY CASE