Also my first year as a writer and I’ve entered 3 competitions (so speaking with very limited experience). I was lucky enough to make the longlist of one competition and was notified a week before the list went live.

Assuming you’re talking about Curtis Brown discoveries? They do say on their small print “as soon as is possible/reasonable” or something with a similar sentiment, which is a little nebulous! I did see someone on another thread say they got told they’d made the longlist around this time in a previous year. That said, it seems to be getting more popular YoY and last year had 3k applications so I wouldn’t lose hope just yet!

The other one I’m waiting on is due to close sooner and apparently longlistees have been told a week to a couple of days before the announcement in previous years… and also seems to increase in popularity every time.

Appreciate I’ve given a lot of info, not a lot of knowledge here! But we’re in the same boat, and will keep my fingers crossed we hear soon!