Help Please! Thoughts on Libraro and Hachette Prize

[Rachael Burnett]

Hi lovely Litopians,

Anyone got any experience with Libraro or thoughts on Libraro and/or the 2026 prize with Hachette? Here's the link below, any thoughts are much appreciated Libraro Prize 2026

 

[Jake E]

Found this.

Libraro Aims to Solve the Slush Pile Problem Libraro Aims to Solve the Slush Pile Problem

 

[Jake E]

Looks promising.
If they can pull it off

 

[Rachael Burnett]

Looks promising.
If they can pull it off

It does, and totally legit. They have been promoting it heavily on LinkedIn. I can’t decide whether to submit. The reader prizes are pretty impressive too. Would you submit yours?

 

[Jake E]

Yeah. I might do.
It's only the first three chapters and it doesn't stipulate the work must be unpublished

 

[Rachael Burnett]

Yeah. I might do.
It's only the first three chapters and it doesn't stipulate the work must be unpublished

Exactly, your work would be really good. The humour I could see getting a good response. Also, others agents might look, you never know.

 

[Sedayne]

I just had a look at the info. As you say, seems legit and Hachette is a massive publisher.
It's completely free to enter, so nothing to lose, I suppose.
And yet... The prize seems huge, until you realise that £20,000 of it is marketing budget. £30,000 still pretty neat and might be more than you'd ever make on your novel anyway. And yet... that's it. Committed to publishing with them, but no commitment from them for any royalties or future investment other than the prize money.
I don't know enough about publishing contracts to know if it's a good deal or if it's taking the piss. But I earn more working for the NHS.
The reader prize however, of £10,000, seems pretty good.

 

[Rachael Burnett]

I just had a look at the info. As you say, seems legit and Hachette is a massive publisher.
It's completely free to enter, so nothing to lose, I suppose.
And yet... The prize seems huge, until you realise that £20,000 of it is marketing budget. £30,000 still pretty neat and might be more than you'd ever make on your novel anyway. And yet... that's it. Committed to publishing with them, but no commitment from them for any royalties or future investment other than the prize money.
I don't know enough about publishing contracts to know if it's a good deal or if it's taking the piss. But I earn more working for the NHS.
The reader prize however, of £10,000, seems pretty good.

Ooh, I hadn’t dissected it quite like that, but it seems worth the punt. Also, whilst I’d like to earn some decent dosh from writing, I’m more interested in getting a publishing deal. Although I’m not willing or to do Faustian deal, one with an okay deal sounds good to me in the very unlikely event Lupercalia might win.

Might you have a punt?

 

[Sedayne]

Ooh, I hadn’t dissected it quite like that, but it seems worth the punt. Also, whilst I’d like to earn some decent dosh from writing, I’m more interested in getting a publishing deal. Although I’m not willing or to do Faustian deal, one with an okay deal sounds good to me in the very unlikely event Lupercalia might win.

Might you have a punt?

Probably not. Aside from the fact I don't think my novel would be popular enough for this kind of contest, I'm wary of being tied into a non-negotiable contract. It might be an amazing opportunity, but something about it feels off. I could be wrong, but instinctively, it doesn't feel right for me.