Official Rules & Terms and Conditions

The Gibson Prize for Christian Fiction

By submitting an entry to The Gibson Prize (the "Contest"), you (the "Entrant") agree to be bound by the following Terms and Conditions.

1. Eligibility

Age: The Contest is open to writers aged 18 years or older at the time of entry.
Entries must be in English
Manuscript Status: Entries must be original, unpublished works of fiction. Self-published works are eligible provided the specific entry (the first page) is not currently under contract with a traditional publisher.
No AI or AI assisted works will be considered.
Contestants related to the judges or contest coordinators are not eligible for the prize.
Entries failing to follow the submission rules will be disqualified.
No contest entry fees will be returned.
By submitting, contestants agree to all contest rules.

2. Submission Guidelines (Blind Judging)

To ensure fairness, this Contest utilizes a Blind Judging process.

Format: Entries must be submitted as a PDF file.
Anonymity: The Entrant’s name, contact information, or website must not appear anywhere within the manuscript file.
Formatting Standards: Please use standard formatting (12pt font, double-spaced, Times New Roman or similar).
Disqualification: Any file containing personal identifying information will be disqualified without a refund.
Disqualification: An entry will be disqualified for the following reasons:
- The entry contains profanity, graphic sex, or any other distasteful or objectionable material not suitable for the Christian marketplace.
- The entrant is related to the judges or contest coordinator.
- Entries failing to follow the submission rules.

3. Content Guidelines (Christian & Clean Fiction)

The Gibson Prize seeks to highlight fiction that honors Christian values. We welcome various genres (Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Historical, etc.) provided they adhere to the following standards:

Theological Alignment: Stories should not be antagonistic toward the Christian faith. While explicit gospel presentations are not required, the themes should not contradict biblical values.
Clean Content Policy:
- Violence: No gratuitous or sadistic violence.
- Sexual Content: No explicit sexual content. Romance must be "closed door" (fade-to-black).
- Language: No profanity or blasphemy.
Right to Disqualify: The Administration reserves the sole right to determine if an entry violates these community standards. Disqualified entries will not be refunded.

4. Entry Fees & Refunds

Non-Refundable: Entry fees are non-refundable for any reason, including entrant withdrawal, disqualification, or dissatisfaction with the results.
Contest Cancellation Clause: In the unlikely event that the Contest does not receive the minimum of 20 entries by March 15, 2026, the Contest will be cancelled, and all entry fees will be refunded in full to the original payment method.

5. Judging & Decisions

Subjectivity: Entrant acknowledges that literature is subjective. The decisions of the judges are final and binding.
No Feedback: Unless specifically stated in the prize tier, Entrants will not receive individual scorecards or feedback on their work.
Sore Loser Policy: Harassment of judges or contest administrators will result in a permanent ban from future contests and forfeiture of any potential prizes.

6. Copyright & Rights

Author Retention: The Entrant retains all copyright and ownership of their work. The Gibson Prize claims no ownership over your story or characters.
Publicity: By entering, the Winner grants The Gibson Prize permission to use their name, book title, and likeness for promotional purposes related to the contest (e.g., "Congratulations to [Name], winner of the 2025 Gibson Prize").

7. Liability

The Gibson Prize and its administrators are not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, or corrupted entries due to technical issues. The Entrant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Contest and its administrators from any claims or damages arising from their participation.