What winning the First 500 Novel Competition means to me, and why it’s the best thing you could do

There seems to be a common experience among writers – the aptly-named writer’s block. I daresay that for some it may last a fortnight, a month, several months or perhaps a year.  Mine had lasted almost two full years when I first heard about Jericho Writers’ First 500 Novel Competition.

It was mentioned at our monthly Zoom call. All seven of us had completed Jericho Writers’ Ultimate Novel Writing Programme two years earlier. For that whole year we had been taught and schooled on the art of writing; had seen our individual efforts read, dissected, corrected and improved; had learned in a secure, nurturing environment where no-one’s work was ever ridiculed or disparaged. Quite how we decided to remain together after the course, escapes me now. From as far apart as South Africa, the United States and England we appointed the second Wednesday of each month for our virtual coming together …

I was sitting musing in front of my computer screen after the Zoom meeting, when a rush of inspiration suddenly descended. I often joke with my agent about this unexpected visitation of what I call my writing genie. I did not make up that term, but it appears to me as a real thing. All the thoughts, ideas, memories and latent vocabulary from regular reading, suddenly distil into tangible words and paragraphs on a blank sheet.

The genie whispered behind my ear, ‘Do it now!’

Within an hour I had churned out two thousand words, and by the end of that week the first chapter of my second novel, Chigbo, had been established. I read it over several times then sent it to my writing group (fondly named Rosie’s Chickens after our tutor Rosie Fiore at Jericho Writers). Feedback came swiftly – that word doesn’t quite fit; that sentence should come before the last one in the first paragraph; that there is my favourite line … Need I say to all my fellow writers, wherever you are, that one of the best things you can do, if you have not done so already, is to find and join or form a writing group.

Long after you have finished any course, when you are alone with your laptop on a cold, rainy morning, it is heartening to know that across the country, across the world, fellow storytellers are struggling with words, wondering if their venture is worthwhile, whether anyone will ever read their stories.

In the same week the outline of my second novel had presented itself, and this I submitted to the First 500 Novel Competition as my synopsis along with my first five hundred words. Once again, these had been reviewed by my group and given a nod. Not long afterwards an email arrived from Jericho Writers:

‘… thrilled to let you know that, out of over 2,000 entries, you have been selected as one of our 8 finalists.’

I was born and raised in South-Eastern Nigeria, so English is not my first language. Civil war erupted in the country before my eighth birthday, and with both parents abroad, my sisters and I were evacuated to a ‘safer’ part of the country to stay with unfamiliar relatives. Though my uncle found us a tutor for much of that period, there was no formal schooling. I spoke good English, or so I thought, except that arriving in England after the end of the war, hardly anyone at school understood a word I said! But the English teacher put me in the GCE group rather than the easier CSE class. I went on to study English Literature for A level and was more pleased with my meagre C grade than the better grades I achieved for my three sciences.

I have given this short background to explain why I was least qualified to win Jericho’s First 500 Novel Competition. Hampered by self-doubt, working with ‘native’ English speakers and often tongue-tied, I nevertheless felt that I had a good story to share. The bulk of my writing stems from the experiences of four young sisters during those war years, padded with youthful imaginings, wistful recreations, vaguely remembered traditions, cultural superstitions, and the unshakeable traumas of war.

It’s quite a feat to be placed on the longlist; even better to find yourself among the finalists, with the substantial prizes automatically on offer. I clung to the best prize of all, however – lifelong Premium Membership of Jericho Writers, with unlimited access to all the teaching tools available. And when I got the chance to take advantage of their mentoring services, I grasped that too. This had the flexibility that my granny duties now necessitate, and Chigbo should be completed before the end of next year.

Notwithstanding, since December 2025, I have never failed to mention, whenever and sometimes inexpediently, that I won Jericho Writers First 500 Novel Competition. One friend replied, ‘Of course you did!’

So, if, like me, you doubt yourself, distrust your ability with words, question your competence as a writer, but have an important story to tell, then do enter this writing competition. Also, if, like me, you have been writing for a fair while, have been recognised by peers, an editor or an agent, then take this important test, and add another badge to your resume.