New2theScene

Pretty much the soundtrack in the office the day we announced we’d be launching the Novella Project again. The first one was epic — the kind of challenge no one really believed we’d pull off until we did. It pushed every writer involved, built a community we didn’t expect, and ended with people being able to hold their own hardback book like proud, stunned parents.

So, what is the Novella Project?

In short: fun, chaos, joy, challenge, interest, collaboration, and just enough discomfort to make you grow as a writer.

(Click here to read the original challenge.)

The Challenge

Fourteen writers.
One week each.
One thousand words.
One story.

That’s it. Beautifully simple. Brutally tricky.

Writer One kicks things off. Then it’s passed to Writer Two. Then Three. Then Four… all the way down the line. Each person gets a week and 1,000 words to bend, twist, sculpt, or gently nudge the story wherever they choose.

It’s writing — but not as the lonely, tea-fuelled beast you might be used to. This is communal. Collaborative. A little unpredictable. And genuinely fun.

Genre

Each Novella Project tackles a different genre. We run two a year, so if this one isn’t for you, don’t worry — the next might be. However, why not try the thing that isn’t your comfort zone? You’ll surprise yourself.

This round’s genre is… HORROR!

Commitment

You’ll receive the story by email each week so you can follow along — whether it’s your turn or not. We ask all participants to read the weekly chapter, so they stay connected to the evolving chaos.

Don’t worry: you won’t need fourteen clear weeks. You’ll get your assigned writing week well in advance.

The Outcome

If the final novella meets our quality threshold (and we fully expect it will!), it’ll be published in our 2026 anthology, complete with:

your name in the contents as a co-author, and
a short bio at the start of your chapter.

(Click here to see our previous anthology.)

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Paid?

Sadly, no — this isn’t a paid project. It’s an opportunity: to get published, to meet other writers, to get stuck into a creative challenge, and to stretch yourself in the best possible way.

How Will Authors Be Chosen?

Email us and tell us why you’d like to take part. Just a short paragraph — who you are, why you want in, and how you’re currently contributing (or planning to contribute) to the New2theScene community (competitions, workshops, books, etc.).