The Black Orchid Novella Award | How to Apply
Call for Submissions: The 2025 Black Orchid Novella Award
Deadline: May 31, 2025
Prize: Publication + Recognition at the Black Orchid Banquet in NYC
Mystery writers, take note: the prestigious Black Orchid Novella Award (BONA) is now accepting submissions. Sponsored by The Wolfe Pack and Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine (AHMM), this blind-judged competition rewards an original, unpublished mystery novella that follows the tradition of Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe series—witty, deductive, character-driven, and steeped in classic storytelling.
The winner will be honored at The Wolfe Pack’s Annual Black Orchid Banquet in New York City on the first Saturday of December.
What the Judges Want for the Black Orchid Novella Award
BONA seeks novellas that are:
- 15,000–20,000 words in length
- Traditional mysteries with a strong detective figure
- Plotted logically—no coincidences or random crimes
- Centered around relationships between characters
- Written with wit, intrigue, and a clear resolution
- Set anywhere, in any time (contemporary or retro)
Your detective may be amateur or professional. However, no explicit sex or violence, and no fan fiction or Nero Wolfe derivatives are allowed. You’re writing in the tradition—not within the universe.
Need help polishing your mystery voice? You might enjoy this guide on how to self-publish your novel.
Submission Guidelines for the Black Orchid Novella Award
This is a blind contest. Follow these instructions exactly:
- Format your manuscript:
- Times New Roman, 12 pt font
- Double-spaced
- Numbered pages
- Header with title and page number only
- No name or contact info on manuscript
- Include a one-sentence summary of the story under the title on the first page (e.g., “A defense attorney and her investigator take on a client accused of poisoning the guests at her struggling bed and breakfast.”)
- Prepare three documents:
- Manuscript in .DOC/.DOCX format
- Manuscript in .PDF format
- A separate cover sheet with: your name, address, phone number, title, word count, and the one-sentence summary
- Submit via the Black Orchid Novella Award Online Submission Form
Incomplete or incorrectly formatted entries will be disqualified without notice.
FAQs Highlights
- Yes, this is an international contest.
- Your story remains your intellectual property.
- Winners and finalists are notified directly; results are also announced publicly at the banquet.
- Still unsure what a novella is, or how to strike the right tone? Read recommended short stories online to get inspired.
The Black Orchid Novella Award honors smart, stylish storytelling rooted in mystery tradition. If you’re crafting the next great whodunit with sharp characters and clever deductions, this is your chance.
Submit by May 31, 2025, and join the legacy of standout mystery writers.
