Every writer has their own goals and personal definition of what “success” includes. Here are some of the places that I have submitted or will submit my writing too, with the hope of publication/acceptance or, at a minimum, another notch on my 100 rejections journey:
Annual mystery novel contests
Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition (deadline: mid-December).
The Crime Writers’ Association’s Debut Dagger for First Unpublished Mystery Novel (deadline: February). [I’ve entered for 2021 with my new novel. Fingers are crossed …]
The Unhanged Arthur Ellis Award for Best Unpublished First Crime Novel, awarded by The Crime Writers of Canada, sponsored by Dundurn Press (deadline: October). [UPDATE: I made the top-five shortlist for this in 2019!!]
Minotaur Books / Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel Competition (deadline: November).
Where to submit a completed mystery manuscript
The Berkley Open Submission Program (with submission windows announced throughout the year). (**No information is currently online about this program, as of September 2022.)
Prizes to win with a published mystery novel
Kobo Emerging Writer Prize, awarded by Rakuten Kobo (let’s hope mystery is the highlighted genre in the year my first book is published).
The Bony Blithe Award: the Bloody Words Light Mystery Award.
The Hammett Prize, awarded by the International Association of Crime Writers North American Branch.
The Lefty Awards, awarded by Left Coast Crime.
The Agatha Awards, awarded by Malice Domestic.
Anthony Awards, awarded by Bouchercon.
The Crime Writers of Canada’s Awards of Excellence.
Grants/awards
The William F. Deeck Malice Domestic Grants Program for Unpublished Writers (deadline November 1).
BC Arts Council Individual Arts Awards for Creative Writers (deadline: September)
Columbia Basin Trust Arts & Culture Grants Funding (deadline: March)
Residencies
Berton House in Dawson City, Yukon, managed by Writers’ Trust
(more to come …)