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1. Scholarship : Makena Onjerika Writing Workshop
Two full scholarships are available for the Introduction to Short Story Writing Class by Makena Onjerika, 2018 Caine Prize winner. The class is made up of 10, 2.5-hour online sessions spread out over 19 weeks (one session every two weeks) between Jan 8th and May 18th 2024.
Deadline: Not specified | Prize: $350 or Kes 45,000 in scholarship
Things to note:
This workshop is available to all writers at $350 but there are only 12 slots.
A full scholarship is only awardable to Kenyan Writers.
2. Cassava Republic $30,000 Nonfiction Book Prize for Black Women
Cassava Republic’s $30,000 manuscript prize is open to emerging and established Black women (cis, trans and genderqueer) writers globally. This prize seeks to reimagine which forms of knowledge are considered “authoritative” by championing writing that collapses the boundary between “creativity” and “scholarship”.
Deadline: 31st March 2024. | Prize: $30,000 + Publishing contract.
Guidelines:
The prize is open to Black women writers aged 18 and over living anywhere in the world.
Writers must submit 5 sample chapters and a pitch letter, which should include a synopsis and a full outline of all chapters.
Long-listed authors will then be asked to submit full manuscripts.
The winner of the manuscript prize will secure a publishing contract with Cassava Republic Press and receive a $20,000 advance. The two runners-up will each receive a $5,000 advance and a publishing deal as well.
3. Iskanchi Book Prize 2024 is now open for submissions:
Iskanchi Book Prize aims to recognize exceptional prose and hybrid book manuscripts and offer the winners a chance to be published. This competition is open to both emerging and established African writers living anywhere in the world.
Deadline: 30 January 2024 | Prize: $1500 and book publication
Some things to note:
Submissions should be prose: Fiction and non-fiction manuscripts (novels, novellas, short story collections, essay collections, memoirs, etc.). OR
hybrid: Manuscripts that blend multiple genres or mediums (e.g., poetry and visual art, prose and photography, experimental formats, etc.)
Book submissions should be previously unpublished and between 50,000– 120,000 words.
Simultaneous submissions to other publishers or competitions are allowed, but please notify us immediately if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere.
Subject of submission should be "Iskanchi Book Prize"
Please send all submissions to submissions@iskanchi.com
source: https://www.iskanchi.com/iskanchi-book-prize
Ending Soon
4. Brittle Paper is accepting submissions for their 2023 Festive Anthology
Brittle Paper is looking for poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and essays centred on recipes, rituals and resolutions during any festive holiday. So, if you have a recipe with a story, a ritual close to your heart, or a resolution for the new year, write it down and share it with us!
Deadline: 24th November 2023 | Prize: Publication in an anthology
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.
Source: https://brittlepaper.com/2023/10/brittle-paper-call-for-submissions-festive-anthology-vol-ii/
5. The 2023 Koffi Addo Writivism Prize for Creative Nonfiction
The Koffi Addo Writivism Prize for Creative Nonfiction is an annual award for creative non-fiction by emerging writers of African descent administered by the Center for African Cultural Excellence (CACE) and sponsored by the Koffi Addo family through MAKEDA PR.
Deadline: 30th November 2023, 11:59pm (East African Time)
Prize: $1000 + published anthology (shortlisted writers receive $50)
Guidelines for submission:
Entrants must be unpublished writers (unpublished here means those who have not had a contract or full-length book published), citizens of an African country, or members of the African diaspora.
Entries must be submitted online, by attaching the Microsoft Word format file of the essay on the submission form available.
Information about the writer such as country of citizenship, race, age, legal name and pen name (where applicable), telephone contact etcetera must be submitted as responses to questions on the submission form, and not included in the body of the story.
Only one entry per writer may be submitted for the Koffi Addo Writivism Prize for Creative Nonfiction. The story must be original and previously unpublished in any form (including on the writer’s personal blog).
All entries will be checked automatically for plagiarism using electronic software. Entries found to be plagiarized will be disqualified without notification to the writer.
All entries must be in English, 1000 words minimum and 2,000 words maximum. Entries should be attached in Microsoft Word or Rich Text formats, with the title of the story as the file name. The first page of the story should include the title of the story and the number of words.
The entry must be typed in Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spacing. No mention should be made on the identity of the writer in the entry.
For more details and guidelines see: www.writivism.org
6. Writivism Short Story Prize 2023
The Writivism Short Story Prize is an annual award for short fiction by emerging writers of African descent administered and sponsored by the Center for African Cultural Excellence (CACE).
Deadline: 30th November 2023, 11:59pm (East African Time)
Prize: $1000 + published anthology (shortlisted writers receive $50)
Guidelines for submission:
Entrants must be unpublished writers (unpublished here means those who have yet to have a contract/novella/book that is (self)published), citizens of an African country, or members of the African diaspora.
Entries must be submitted online, by attaching the Microsoft Word format file of the story on the submission form.
Information about the writer such as country of citizenship, race, age, legal name and pen name (where applicable), telephone must be submitted as responses to questions on the submission form, and not included in the body of the story.
Only one entry per writer may be submitted for the Writivism Short Story Prize. The story must be original and previously unpublished in any form (including on the writer’s personal blog).
All entries will be checked automatically for plagiarism using electronic software. Entries found to be plagiarized will be disqualified without notification to the writer.
All entries must be in English, and 2,000 – 3,500 words long. Entries should be attached in Microsoft Word or Rich Text formats, with the title of the story as the file name. The first page of the story should include the title of the story and the number of words.
The entry must be typed in Times New Roman 12-point font and double-spacing. No mention should be made on the identity of the writer in the entry.
For more details and guidelines see: www.writivism.org
7. The 2023 Writivism Prize for Poetry
The Writivism Prize for Poetry is an annual award for poetry by emerging writers of African descent administered and sponsored by the Center for African Cultural Excellence (CACE).
Deadline: 30th November 2023, 11:59pm (East African Time)
Prize: $1000 + published anthology (shortlisted poets receive $50)
Guidelines for submission:
Entrants must be unpublished poets (unpublished here means those who are yet to have a contract/publish/launch a full collection/chapbook/album of poetry), citizens of an African country, or members of the African diaspora. The poetry (both the original and the translation) must be previously unpublished in any form (including audio and video forms). Self-published collections are also considered publishing.
Entries must be submitted online, by attaching the Microsoft Word format of the poems (in one document) on the submission form available here.
Information about the writer such as country of citizenship, race, age, legal name and pen name (where applicable), and telephone must be submitted as responses to questions on the submission form, and not included in the body of the story.
Five poems in English, and for those submitting English translations of their own poetry from another language, the poems’ original versions in an African indigenous language or African diasporic language, clearly mentioned (in one document) may be submitted. Submitting more or less than five poems renders an entry ineligible.
Only the English version of the poetry will be considered by the judges for the prize where translations are submitted. The original, clearly mentioning the African indigenous or diasporic language in which the poems are written must also be included in the entry. Only poems translated by the poet are eligible.
All entries must be in English, and 6 – 1000 words long. Only one entry (5 poems) per poet may be submitted for the Writivism Prize for Poetry. The poetry must be original and previously unpublished in any form (including on the writer’s personal blog or social media).
All entries will be checked automatically for plagiarism using electronic software. Entries found to be plagiarised will be disqualified without notification to the writer.
The entry must be typed in Times New Roman, 12-point font, single-spacing. No mention should be made of the identity of the writer in the entry. Entries should be attached in Microsoft Word or Rich Text formats, with the title of the first poem as the file name. The first page of the document should include the titles of the five poems and the total number of words.
All poems must have a title. The entry must have a cover page, with an index of the poem titles included. The font colour shall be black on a white background.
For more details and guidelines see: www.writivism.org
8. Afritondo Prize 2024 is accepting short story submissions with the theme “Aliens”
This year, Afritondo wants writers “to respond to the theme of “aliens”: unfamiliar things, unfamiliar people, how they are received and lived with or rejected, how they change families, communities, societies.”
Deadline: 16th December 2023. | Prize: $1000 (total)
Here are a few things to note:
1. You may only submit an entry if you are a citizen or national of an African country; one of your parents is a national of an African country; you identify as Black or African or belong to an African or Black minority population anywhere in the world.
2. Submissions must be in English. The submission, including the title, must be between 3000 and 5000 words.
3. Submissions must reflect the theme. Only one submission per writer is allowed.
4. Submission is accepted only via email. Entries should be sent to submissions@afritondo.com. The subject of the email should read: Submission for Afritondo Short Story Prize 2023. The filename of the entry (i.e., the attached document) must be the title of the short story. In the body of the email tell us, briefly, about yourself, including such information as your legal name, country of residence, age, and contact details.
For more information to guide your submission read these guidelines: https://www.afritondo.com/entry-guidelines-2023
9. SpringNG’s Poetry Journal (March 2024 issue) is now accepting submissions.
Poetry Journal is accepting poetry and short story submissions for the 2024 edition. SprinNG is a society for the promotion, revitalization, and improvement of new Nigerian generations in writing and literature.
Deadline: 16th December 2023 | Prize: N100,000
Here are a few things to note:
There are no age restrictions
Writers submitting poems should send no more than six poems, while writers submitting short stories (2000-word limit) should send no more than three short stories (all in a word document).
While previously published works are welcomed, it is important to mention where and when they have been published while submitting.
Submission is done through the website ONLY.
Prose of the Week:
It’s Not About a Female Priesthood by Esohe Iyare
Uro* and Nadi* are seated facing each other. My chair is a bit further back making us into a human triangle. I’m here to document what they think. I am a neutral (as can be) scribe and an occasional nuisance.
We go over the ground rules: receive (the message), respect (the person), repeat (to clarify), reply.
I press a ‘ding’ button on my phone. Alors on danse (avec des mots)!.
Poetry of the Week:
Dawn Has Set in by Maureen Rita | Photo by dominik hofbauer on Unsplash
It is a tear
It is a smile
It is a force…
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Sa'a a gare ku (good luck—Hausa, Northern Nigeria)