11 Funded Opportunities for African Writers
Up to $1000, Book Deal, Workshop, Print Publication
This newsletter is published every Wednesday at 5pm WAT.
1. The Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop
The Idembeka Workshop was established in 2022 by Frances Ogamba, Kasimma and Mubanga Kalimamukwento is free to attend for African writers with not more than three publications to their credit. The 2025 edition will hold virtually between 6th and 11th January 2025.
Deadline: 15th November 2024 | Prize: Free Workshop
Things to note:
For prose (fiction or creative nonfiction), word length is 1,000 words max
For poetry, submission must not exceed 5 pages
Submission must be made in William Shaun manuscript format
Submissions should not have the submitters name or any identifying details
Submissions should include a cover letter and short bio
Submissions should be sent here.
2. Brittle Paper Call for Submissions: Festive Anthology Vol. III
Brittle Paper is excited to announce the 2024 submission call for their annual festive anthology. “This year, we are putting a spin on the traditional advent calendar by swapping out chocolates for your honey-dipped words! With 25 days to fill, we are putting together a collection of poems, stories and essays that describe the build-up to all kinds of festive moments.”—BP
Deadline: 15th November 2024 | Pay: Unstated
Things to note:
Email your submission to submissions@brittlepaper.com.
Email subject heading: “Festive Anthology Submission”
Include an author picture and biography.
Each submission needs to consist of only one piece of original and unpublished work, but simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Submissions need to be in Word format.
Poetry submission word limit: 500 words
Non/Fiction and Essay submission word limit: 3500 words
Selection process will take place after the deadline.
Please note that entries are not limited to Christmas and can explore any form of festive celebration.
3. Submit Literary Fiction Manuscripts to Ouida Books
Ouida Books is inspired by the pin-tailed Whydah, known for its love of freedom, its courage and undeniable elegance. Their vision is to cater to the needs of readers who enjoy high quality fiction such as A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, Butter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi, The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa by Stephen Buoro, and more. Their reading period for 2024 closes soon.
Deadline: 20th November 2024 | Pay: Book deal
Guidelines:
Please send an email with the subject heading “Submission: [title of your work]” to submissions@ouidabooks.com. They are not accepting short story collections at this time.
In your query letter (in the body of the email), introduce yourself. Please tell us everything you think we ought to know about the work in question (story premise and story blurb). Consider mentioning why you think you are best placed to write this work. Two files should be submitted.
File 1: A one-page synopsis of the work you are submitting, in Microsoft Word. Please include all major plot points in your synopsis, including spoilers.
File 2: A sample of the work in question. This should be the first 3 chapters, or the first 50 pages, or the first 10,000 words, whichever is longer.
Your submission should be traditionally formatted. Send your manuscript sample in double-spaced, indented paragraphs, left-justified only, Times New Roman text on A4. Please adhere strictly to these specifications, as your submission might be considered invalid if you do not.
Ouida Books is not accepting poetry, or play submissions at this time.
You can only submit one manuscript at a time.
4. Introduction to Short Story Writing by Makena Onjerika
Makena Onjerika is the winner of the 2018 Caine Prize. Her realist and speculative work has appeared or is forthcoming in Granta.com, The Deadlands, Fireside Magazine, Black Warrior Review, Isele Magazine, Lolwe Magazine, Adroit Journal, Doek!, Jalada, DRR, Waxwing, Wasafiri etc. Onjerika is organizing a workshop in short story writing for 12 participants, and there is a chance for full funding for ONE participant.
Deadline: unstated | Prize: One workshop scholarship worth $400
Things to note
Course structure: 10, 2.5 hours sessions (1 session every week), via Google Meet
Class size: 12 participants max
Period: between Jan 2025 and May 2025
Class day: Friday (tentative); class time: 7-9:30pm EAT
It is strongly recommended that you have your three stories drafted before joining the class.
To express interest, and receive details on how to win the scholarship, please fill this form.
5. Submit to Nimrod International Journal
Nimrod International Journal welcomes submissions of poetry and short fiction. They publish two issues annually, and both issues contain work accepted as general submissions throughout the year.
Deadline: 30th November 2024 | Pay: Up to $300
Things to note:
All submissions should be previously unpublished.
Poetry: Submit up to 7 pages of poetry
All poems should be included in a single file, no more than one poem per page
Please include your name in the body of your manuscript
Fiction: submit 5,000 words maximum
Stories should be double-spaced
Please include your name in the body of your manuscript
Click here to submit.
6. Khoreo Magazine: Call for Speculative Fiction
Khōréō is dedicated to diversity and amplifying the voices of immigrant and diaspora authors and artists. They are currently seeking submissions under the theme: Symbiosis. They welcome, but do not require, a brief description of the author’s identity in their cover letter.
Deadline: 30th November 2024 | Pay: Up to $500
Guidelines:
Please format your story using the Shunn modern manuscript format (details at this link: https://www.shunn.net/format/story/).
Writers may omit their mailing address for submission, but accepted stories will require a mailing address for our contracts.
Please submit based on length — stories ≤1,500 words should go into the flash queue, while stories 1,501-5,000 words should go into the short story queue.
Writers may submit one story each to the Flash and Short Story queues every submission period.
7. Apply to Gulliver’s Travel Grant for Speculative Fiction
Since 2004, the Gulliver Travel Grant has been awarded annually to assist writers of speculative literature in their non-academic research. These funds are used to cover airfare, lodging, and other travel expenses. Travel may be domestic or international. You may apply for travel to take place at any point in the following year. This grant is intended to help writers working with speculative literature.
Deadline: 30th November 2024 | Prize: $1000
How to apply:
Required materials include:
A cover letter: Include a one-page written description of the project, including details on the travel location and an estimated completion date (no more than 500 words), and a bibliography of previously published work, if applicable. Applicants need not have prior publishing credits to apply.
A writing sample: Up to 10 pages of poetry, 10 pages of drama, or 5,000 words of fiction or creative nonfiction. If you are sending a segment of a novel, novella, or novelette, please include a one-page synopsis as the first page of the document. The submitted work must be speculative.
Fill the form below to apply
8. Submit Poetry to The Shore
The Shore is an online poetry publication seeking cutting, strange, and daring work from new and established poets alike. They want poems that explore the worlds of things and ideas, that recognize the liminality, the shifting of everything around us and our ability to name a thing whole.
Deadline: 1st December 2024 | Pay: unstated
Guidelines:
Email 3-5 poems in a single document in .doc or .docx format to theshorepoetry@gmail.com
Subject line: “Last Name_First Name THE SHORE submission” with a cover letter and third-person bio included in the body of the email.
They accept simultaneous submissions as long as you notify them if the piece is accepted elsewhere, but they do not accept reprints. Upon acceptance, please withdraw your poems from other consideration.
Please only submit once per reading period.
9. Submit Fiction to Naira Stories
Naira Stories is a new Nigerian-based literary magadine, is thrilled to announce a call for the magazine is published three times a year. The first edition of each year is a collection of short fiction, the second edition of each year is a collection of short creative non-fiction, and the third edition of each year is a collection of short memoirs.
Deadline: 5th December 2024 | Pay: N25,000 per story + 2 magazine copies
Things to note:
Entries should be short literary fiction. Fantasy, science fiction, romance, crime, mystery, children's literature, etc., may not be accepted.
Entries must be in English and must be original and unpublished in any form.
Entries must be formatted in Times New Roman 12-point font, with 1.5 line spacing. The text of the story should be justified.
Entries must be in a Microsoft Word (MS) document. The header of the document must bear the title of the story, the name of the author, and page numbers.
Entries should be 4500 - 5000 words. Anything outside this word limit may not be
accepted.
Only one entry per author.
Entries must be sent via attachment to submissions@nairatimes.com. The subject of the email should be 'Naira Short Fiction', followed by the title of the story and the name of the author. Example: Naira Short Fiction - *A Home Too Near' by Bayo Chukwu.
Entries should be accompanied by a cover letter (containing the name, address, email, and phone number of the author), the title and word count of the story, and a short bio (not more than 100 words) of the author in the body of the email.
10. Apply to Study Global Black Literatures at UW-Madison
The Department of English at UW-Madison is offering a fully funded scholarship for a PhD in Global Black Literatures. Ph.D. students typically receive five or six years of guaranteed funding through a combination of fellowships, assistantships, scholarships and progress-to-degree awards. Students also receive tuition remission, a robust healthcare plan and are eligible for up to $2,000 of professional development/travel funds per year, along with other forms of financial support.
Deadline: 8th December 2024 | Scholarship: Up to $40,000 per year
How to apply:
Read through application information on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate School and open an application.
Prepare and submit required materials online via the Graduate School application form, including transcripts, recommendations, test scores, and a “Reasons for Graduate Study” statement.
For international students, please consult the “International Students” page for further information.
Application materials will be reviewed by English Department and Graduate School faculty and staff upon receipt. You can read about their evaluation criteria and process here.
11. Midnight & Indigo: Open for Submissions from Black Women
Midnight & indigo, a literary journal celebrating Black women writers, has issued a call for submissions to review short stories and narrative essays. They publish content their tri-annual literary journals. Writers are invited to share their original, fictional, or personal stories. Stories must be character-driven and leave readers with something to think about. All genres are welcome!
Deadline: 30th December 2024 | Pay: Up to $150
Things to note:
They are currently accepting submissions for three categories. Click each title for specific guidelines and submission links.
The Music Issue: Short stories and essays inspired by music (1200-7000 words)
Short Stories: Literary fiction delves deep into the human condition, exploring themes of identity, relationships, and the intricate nuances of everyday life. (1500-7000 words)
Personal Essays: Previously unpublished, personal and evocative first-person essays that forge an immediate connection with readers. (Min of 1200 words)
All genres and writing styles are welcome. It may be helpful to view theor current short stories, essays, and literary journals to get a general sense of what we publish, but don’t be afraid to push the needle!
They do not accept work created by AI. Any submissions not entirely created by a human author will be automatically rejected.
Prose of The Week
The Collector of Sisters | Mubanga Kalimamukwento
Ukwangala kwachila ulupwa.
Friendship surpasses family.
Bemba proverb
My sister came to me a few months after I turned two, right in time for my memories to crystallise. Most things from that year are a blur, but I do remember the blaring pink of the shawl my mother brought my little sister home in. I remember her skin, as dark as the doll one of my aunties had brought for me on a trip to London. I remember pinching her and watching her cry…
If you’d like your prose featured in ‘Prose of The Week’ send an email to editor.afww@gmail.com.
Poetry of the Week
My Mother’s Prayers | John Attah
My mother’s prayers adorn my neck like a rosary; she begins to pray in my name and moves to pray for my father, herself, and the family.
With each bead that follows, she carefully strokes them with words that come from the deepest part of her heart. She is filled with many words that describe me…
If you’d like your poetry featured in ‘Poetry of The Week’ send an email to editor.afww@gmail.com.
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bahati njema (good luck!—Swahili, Tanzania)