First Novelist Award

The First Novelist Award is an American literary award for debut novels. It has been presented annually since 2001 on behalf of Virginia Commonwealth University's MFA in Creative Writing Program. Nominations are solicited from MFA programs nationwide as well as from publishers, editors, agents, and writers. The prize includes $5000 cash and participation in a three-day festival at VCU that focuses on the creation, publication, and promotion processes involved with a first novel. The award is more formally known as the "Virginia Commonwealth University Cabell First Novelist Award".

The First Novelist Award was created in 2001 by playwright Laura Browder and novelist Tom De Haven. In addition, Richmond writer and VCU alumnus David Baldacci funded and supported the fledgling Award in its early years. The First Novelist Award is presented on behalf of VCU's MFA in Creative Writing Program. Sponsors include the VCU Department of English, James Branch Cabell Library Associates, Friends of the Library, the VCU Libraries, the VCU Honors College, Barnes & Noble at the VCU Bookstore, and the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences.

Created to recognize a rising new talent in the literary world who has successfully published a first novel, nominations are solicited from MFA programs nationwide as well as from publishers, editors, agents, and writers. A panel of readers narrows the field to the four or five most promising new works of fiction, and from that short list, three prominent judges choose the recipient of the First Novelist Award.

The award is presented at the First Novelist Festival. During this three-day festival, VCU brings together the newly published author and his or her agent and editor for a series of events that focus on the creation, publication, and promotion processes involved with a first novel. The itinerary includes a luncheon, a visit with a graduate fiction workshop, a public reading followed by a Q&A session, and other events that draw together MFA and undergraduate writers, the VCU and Richmond literary communities, and the general public. Travel expenses to Richmond and lodging accommodations for the author, agent, and editor are provided, as well as a $5000 cash prize for the author.

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