Criteria for entry
Key dates
- 12th February 2026 – Submissions open
- 14th April 2026 – Submissions close
- 26th May 2026 – Longlist of sixteen announced
- 7th July 2026 – Shortlist of six announced
- 3rd September 2026 – Winner and two runners up announced
Headline and Curtis Brown Creative have teamed up to find exciting new voices in romantic fiction from writers from Black, Asian, mixed heritage and/or multiple ethnic backgrounds, in association with Hachette UK’s The Future Bookshelf. Competition closed for entries.
Learn moreModern Stories: It Must Be Love is a new romance novel-writing competition seeking to uplift and support emerging writers from Black, Asian, mixed heritage and/or multiple ethnic backgrounds. If you’re writing a novel full of weak-at-the-knees meetcutes, angsty unrequited pining, missed connections, and that moment where someone finally says because I love you, then this one’s for you.
Send us your heart-melters, your tear-jerkers, your heart-wrenchers, your knife-to-the-chest love stories – basically anything that'll keep us up all night wanted to keep turning the pages. From 90s rom-com re-tellings and cosy small-town love stories to opposites-attract hockey romances and reimagined enemies-to-lovers romantasy, if it makes us cry, sigh, and believe in love all over again, we want to read your story.
We welcome romantic fiction across genres, including romantic comedy, romantic drama and romantasy. The novel must be for adults and fit into the category of commercial fiction i.e. a compelling plot, memorable characters, snappy dialogue and, of course, no shortage of romance. Novels do not have to be finished; judges are looking for brilliant voices, strong concepts and a compelling romance that takes centre stage.
Entrants must be unagented and previously unpublished, aged 18 or over, resident in the UK and from a Black, Asian, mixed heritage and/or multiple ethnic background.
Up to the first 5,000 words of the novel
A synopsis of the novel (up to 600 words). This should tell us what the rest of the story is about – don’t worry about giving away the twists; we want to know what happens in the beginning, the middle and the end! If you’d like more advice on writing a synopsis, check out this blog.
Submissions will open on 12th February 2026 and close on 11:59PM on 14th April 2026.
Full terms and conditions are available here.
Boasting a passionate team who like nothing more than debating the perfect romantic pairings, Headline Eternal’s mission is to ensure that every fan finds their heart’s desire, whether that’s a small-town, single-dad romance or a sexy 500-year old vampire prince.
We are committed to bringing romance lovers the best in the genre – whether it’s from established international bestsellers like Jasmine Guillory, Farrah Rochon, Jill Shalvis, and Jo Watson, or TikTok sensations such as Amber V. Nicole, Sarah Adams, Grace Reilly, Mazey Eddings, Erin Sterling, and Mariana Zapata.
Find us on Instagram @headlineeternal
Good luck!
