ɹˈaɪɾɚz ɑːɹ pɚmˈɪɾᵻd tə plˈæn ænd ˈaʊtlaɪn ðɛɹ nˈɑːvəl ɪn ɐdvˈæns, bˌʌt ðɪ ˈæktʃuːəl ɹˈaɪɾɪŋ kænˈɑːt bɪɡˈɪn ʌntˈɪl ðə kˈɑːntɛsts ˈoʊpənɪŋ dˈeɪt, wˌɪtʃ ɪz tɹɐdˈɪʃənəli ˌɔn lˈeɪbɚ dˈeɪ wˈiːkɛnd.
Writers are permitted to plan and outline their novel in advance, but the actual writing cannot begin until the contest's opening date, which is traditionally on Labour Day weekend.