contests
fwiw I've judged small and large contests. This has come in handy on occasion as a writing credential; don't know why becuase I learned, as one co-judge put it, "any bozo can judge a contest". Too often a judge is someone's kid or husband who doesn't know squat, because no one else would volunteer.
I know the inside of contests; how they're created, set up, run, judged. Even so-called qualified judges can be inept. But winners love to win, it makes them happy and they get mileage out of it especially when a victory reading is involved.
I hope you find the novel contest you're looking for. Can you let us know?
Wait--I have entered National Novel Writing Month twice and won. You must write a 50k novel in November to win. And yes, writers in my community are suitably impressed with my feat. (I've read excerpts they enjoyed, that helps too.)