Closing Soon: 7 Opportunities for African Writers
Up to $1000, Free Workshops, Book Publication, Essay Contest etc
This newsletter is published every Wednesday.
1. Quramo Writer’s Prize 2024
For this year’s prize, Quramo is inviting unpublished Nigerian and African writers to submit a fiction prose manuscript. The Prize is awarded to a fiction prose manuscript by an African writer published in English, whether they reside in Africa or elsewhere. Each entry must be an original, unpublished work.
Deadline: 31st of May, 2024. Prize: Publishing Deal + N1,000,000
Instructions:
The Prize is only open to unpublished Nigerian and African writers.
The fiction prose manuscript must be the original, unpublished work of the entrant. Published work is not eligible for the prize.
Short story collections, plays, and poetry are not eligible.
Manuscripts must contain a minimum of 30,000 words.
All entrants must be 16 years of age and above.
All entries must be submitted through the submissions portal on the official Quramo website in the following format:
Times New Roman font type. MS Word format. Font Size 12. Left justified. Double line spacing. Page numbers on each page
All submissions must be sent in with the following information:
A one-page synopsis (click link for some guidance on how to write a winning synopsis). A short personal biography of 100 words max. (in third person POV). Social media profiles (Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn). Full (legal) name. Physical address. Email address. Phone number
They do not accept simultaneous submissions. Prior entries for the QWP are also ineligible.
For more instructions and to submit click below
2. Seventy 7 Soccer Essay Competition for Nigerians
Seventy 7 Soccer is inviting Nigerians between the ages of 17 and 25 to submit essays on the theme: The Long Game: Helping Parents and Football Players Prepare for the Realities of Professional Football Pursuits.
Deadline: 8th May 2024. | Prize: total of N450,000
Guidelines:
Only Nigerians residing in Nigeria, who follow them on X and Instagram, and are aged 18 to 25, are eligible.
Essays should be between 1000-2000 words. Times New Roman
12pt font size. Center your theme and name and social media handle on the first page of your work. Subsequent pages should have the title and page number in the header.All entries should be submitted as pdf to submission@seventy7soccer.com.
No plagiarism allowed (including AI generated text). Previously published works will be disqualified.
Winners must prove their age by the means of either a NIN Slip/Card, Birth Certificate, or valid Nigerian Passport.
3. Communa Magazine: Call for Short Stories
Communa is a digital and print publication interested in exploring sociocultural stories with curiosity and insight. For their first call for submissions they are seeking short stories under the theme “The house the people built”. “We want to be surprised, we want to be moved and most of all, we want to publish you.”—Communa
Deadline: 8th May 2024. | Prize: Total of $325
Guidelines for submissions
They accept only fiction that has not been published on any platform.
They also accept simultaneous submissions, but kindly inform them if your submission has been accepted by another publication.
Submissions should be via this LINK a minimum length of 1,500 words and maximum of 5000 words is required.
Save the attached document with the category and title of your work only. For example; “Fiction. A time to cry”. Please do not save the attached document with your name.
A brief introduction about yourself with your social media handles should be included in your submission.
Winners will be announced on their social media pages.
4. Voodoonauts 2024 Black Speculative Summer Fellowship
Voodoonauts is hosting a free online week-long writing fellowship in August with the theme: Resistance, Solidarity. and Liberation. Voodoonauts was founded by four Black writers Shingai Njeri Kagunda, Yvette Lisa Ndlovu, LP Kindred, and Hugh “H.D” Hunter who saw a shortage of Black storytelling-centered spaces in the mainstream SFF community.
Deadline: 1st May 2024. | Prize: Free workshop
Things to note:
Voodoonauts will be hosting craft workshops and teachings that insist on dismantling imperialist, white supremacist, and capitalist worlds in stories, while creating worlds rooted in liberation.
Workshop holds virtually, from 8-11 August, 2024.
You can email voodoonauts@gmail.com for any inquiries
5. Afrocritik 2024 Prize for Criticism
In recognition of Africa’s literary landscape which has grown over the years to acclaim both on the continent and abroad, the inaugural edition of the Afrocritik Prize for Criticism will spotlight discourse within the works of contemporary African writers. The books to be reviewed include: Affection and Other Accidents by Dami Ajayi, Dreaming of Ways to Understand You by Jerry Chiemeke, His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie.
Deadline: 30th April 2024. | Prize: Total of $600
How to submit:
Submit a 600 to 800-word review each, covering all three books under review.
Entries must be submitted as a single document (doc. or pdf file) within the entry period.
Multiple submissions are discouraged.
Applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 24.
Applicants must be African citizens residing in Africa.
Proof of age and citizenship may be required during submission.
6. WRITE-A-THON by Pyros Academy
The April edition of Pyros Performance Art Academy’s Write-A-Thon is inviting poets to write a poem beginning with the line “On things that you think should be left unsaid…”. The poem must be rendered in a video not exceeding one-minute, and posted on Instagarm.
Deadline: 25th April 2024. | Prize: N20,000
Rules:
The poem must be originally written by the poet who posts the video for consideration.
Animated text videos are invalid.
Entry must use the hashtag #writeathonapril to be considered.
Entries should be posted on Instagram and must not exceed one minute.
Entries will be judged based on both poetic and visual content.
7. Fortune Writers is Hiring Remote Content Writers
Fortune Writers Inc. is looking to hire a remote Content Writers with knowledge and competency in a wide breadth of topics and niches. You will be at the forefront of our storytelling and branding initiatives.
Deadline: unstated. | Compensation: unstated
Requirements:
Educational & Professional:
– Preferred but not required: Degree in Journalism, Communications, English, or related field.
– Preferred but not required: 2 years of experience in content writing, preferably in an agency setting.
Skills:
– Stellar writing and editing abilities with an impeccable command of English.
– Proficient in SEO principles and utilizing SEO tools.
– Ability to adapt writing style to different tones and platforms.
Personal Qualities:
– Strategic and critical thinking skills.
– Excellent research, organizational, and multitasking abilities.
– Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Technical Proficiency:
– Familiarity with content management systems (e.g., WordPress).
– Proficient in using Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
To apply: Applicants should include only their name in the email subject and a previously written writing sample in the body of the email to fortunewriters@applicants360.com
Prose of the Week
Eating Yam with Palm Oil | Jola Naibi
A high-pitched, bone-piercing scream awakens you. For several seconds you wonder if what you have heard is from a dream in which you’d been running away from someone or something. You sit up and stare into the darkness, momentarily unaware of where you are. The second scream jolts you fully awake. You scramble to your feet as two things immediately cross your mind…..
Poetry of the Week
A Bloody Penchant | Roseline Mgbodichimma
Undoing is a red song
Billowing between what is divine
& What may be an overflow
Every month/ I aspire to perspire to acquire
Thanks for diving into our newsletter! Don't miss out—subscribe now (if you haven’t) for a weekly curated list including writing competitions, publishing opportunities, grants, fellowships, and content crafted to fuel the growth of African writers. Join the literary journey!
Ni ku lakaleza litohonolo (I wish you good luck—Lozi, Zambia)