The New Zealand Pop Idol is all over the news at the moment, but did you know that there is a Lit Idol organised by the London Book Fair?

It’s designed to uncover "the next big quality commercial bestseller", and entrants send in up to 10,000 words from their unpublished novels. When the field is reduced to five, the work will be displayed on websites (www.thebookplace.co.uk and www.oneword.co.uk) and opened up to a public vote.

The five finalists also have to read their works before a judging panel at the London Book Fair on 15 March 2004. The winning entrant wins representation from top literary agent Curtis Brown and the chance to showcase their work in front of an international forum of publishers at the Show in March. The winner will also receive a free Evoke Digital Radio donated by Oneword Radio.

NB. Oneword is the world's first radio station to focus on books, drama, comedy & discussion. It broadcasts seven days a week on Sky in the UK, on DAB digital radio, and on the Internet.