NEED TO KNOW
\nOnline writing school The Novelry has announced the winner of The Next Big Story prize$100,000 will be awarded to the emerging writer, along with enrollment in the school’s The Finished Novel Course to develop their book alongside editors and authorsThe panel for the contest included Emma Roberts, Zosia Mamet, Carley Fortune and more<\/p>\n
The winner of The Novelry\u2019s The Next Big Story prize has been announced!<\/p>\n
In May, The Novelry, an online writing school, first launched the writing competition<\/a>, which was created to \u201cuncover\u00a0fresh literary talent, breaking down barriers and amplifying unheard voices,\u201d per a statement shared with PEOPLE at the time.<\/p>\n Applicants were invited to submit the first three pages of a novel to a panel of judges, including Emma Roberts<\/a>, actress and co-founder of the Belletrist book club<\/a>, along with authors Zosia Mamet<\/a>, Tayari Jones<\/a>, Carley Fortune<\/a>, Yann Martel, Julia Quinn<\/a>, Zibby Owens and Jackie Oshry. Book influencers Brady Lockerby and Kimberly Nwokorie also participated as judges.<\/p>\n The winner was announced<\/a> to be Stella Donovan, whose entry captivated the judges with its \u201cfresh voice and intriguing premise,\u201d per a statement shared with PEOPLE.\n<\/p>\n The panel of judges for The Novelry’s ‘The Next Big Story’ contest.<\/p>\n The Novelry<\/p>\n Donovan will receive $100,000 and enrollment in The Novelry\u2019s The Finished Novel Course,\u00a0which invites participants to develop and complete their book with a team of Big Five publisher editors and bestselling authors.\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt is absolutely mind-boggling to receive such a generous prize as an unpublished novelist,\u201d Donovan says in a statement. “Even more incredible is the assurance that there\u2019s no deadline or pressure attached, and that the funds exist simply to support me as I develop the work at my own pace.\u201d\n<\/p>\n The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \u201cBeyond the financial support, I\u2019m deeply honored to have been selected by such a prestigious panel of\u00a0 judges,\u201d Donovan continues. \u201cTheir endorsement has given me something that\u2019s often hard to sustain without connections, mentors, or a visible path into the literary world: confidence. Confidence that my dreams aren\u2019t na\u00efve or unrealistic, and that my persistent return to this character wasn\u2019t as delusional as I (and probably my wonderful friends and family) sometimes feared.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Stella Donovan.<\/p>\n \u00a0Lynda Churilla<\/p>\n \u201cI encourage anyone who has a story that won’t let them go to keep writing, take a big swing, and bet on yourself. As I’ve learned over the last few weeks, everything is possible.\u201d\n<\/p>\n The contest\u2019s finalists include Hannah Feather, Kierra Eackles, Ashmita Bhattacharjee, Rob Winslow, Carmelita Zappala, Liam Morris and Kylie Cooper.\n<\/p>\n