Closing Soon: Opportunities for African Writers
Up to £18,000, Publication, Free Workshop, Contests
This newsletter is published every Wednesday at 5:00pm WAT.
1. Lọúnlọún Call for Historical Fiction
A literary journal focused on historical fiction set during historical events that have shaped and defined places and times in Africa and the experiences of those who lived through the events—or didn’t—no matter how minute. “We interested in a car crash in 2004 published in the local newspapers as much as we are in the Rwandan and Biafran genocides of 1994 and 1967, respectively.”
Deadline: 31st July 2024 | Compensation: Publication
Things to note:
Fiction: 2000 – 5000 word range.
Only original pieces will be considered. Previously published pieces are not accepted.
Submissions should be in Times New Roman, size 12, double-spaced, and submitted in Word document format.
Submissions should be in English or translated to English. Writers are, however, allowed creative freedom with the expression of their languages.
Submissions must be based on an event that has happened on the continent or affected the continent, regardless of where characters in the telling are located.
Submissions must contain a brief historical setting description (max. two sentences) formally describing the historical events in telling.
Submissions must have at least two reference links to the historical events in telling.
They accept simultaneous submissions, but let them know promptly if your work is accepted elsewhere.
Ensure your submissions are meticulously reviewed for correct formatting, grammar, and punctuation. Significant mistakes in these areas can hinder the likelihood of your work being considered for publication.
To submit your work, send an email to submissions@lounloun.com with the subject ‘Fiction Submission.’ In the body of the email include your third-person bio and attach the story. Please ensure the story has references and is in Word document format.
2. Mudroom Magazine is Accepting Submissions
The Mudroom Magazine describes themselves as being devoted to the in-between. For their next issue, they are seeking poetry and prose submissions.
Deadline: 31st July 2024 | Compensation: $15
Guidelines:
Please only submit once per submission period.
All contributors are paid through Paypal. Please alert them in your submission if you require another method of payment.
Submissions should be emailed to mud.room.submissions@gmail.com.
For Poetry:
Please send 3-5 original, previously unpublished poems in a single .DOC/.DOCX .ODT or PDF file with one poem per page (eight pages maximum).
Indicate POETRY SUBMISSION in your subject line. Submissions without "Poetry Submission" in the subject line will be deleted.
You may also include a brief cover letter/third-person bio in the body of your email.
For Prose (Fiction, Essays, Essays in Translation):
Please send a previously unpublished work no longer than 6,000 words in double spaced 12-point Times New Roman font. All works should be attached in a single .DOC/.DOCX .ODT or PDF file.
Please indicate PROSE SUBMISSION in your subject line. Submissions without "Prose Submission" in the subject line will be deleted.
You may also include a brief cover letter/third-person bio in the body of your email.
3. Submit to Ubwali
Ubwali is a literary magazine from Zambia on a mission to publish stories that nourish. They are currently accepting short stories, essays, visual art (including photography) and poems.
Deadline: 31st July 2024 | Pay: unstated
Things to note:
This call is only open to Zambian writers.
Word count is 3000-6000 words for prose (fiction and essays) or 1-3 poems in a single document.
Submissions should come as Word document (not PDF) typed in a legible, plain font such as Arial, Book Antiqua, Georgia, Garamond, or Times New Roman. Please keep font size to 12pt and 1.5 spaced.
Please ensure that your work is free from obvious grammatical errors prior to submission. They do not allow revision while your work is under consideration.
Simultaneous submissions are accepted. Translations, however, are not.
4. Call for submission – Magma 91, In the Flesh
Aoife Lyall and Victoria Kennefick invite poetry submissions to an anthology under the theme: In the Flesh. “In the Flesh speaks to health and illness, life, death, recovery and regeneration, and in and amongst all of that, food – that first mouthful of a ripe peach, the pulling apart of slow-cooked meat – the rites and rituals that surround how we grow, share and consume our food, be that on our own, with friends and family, with lovers, in private, in public spaces.”
Deadline: 31st July 2024. | Compensation: unstated
How to submit:
You may submit up to 4 previously unpublished poems: ONLINE via Submittable in a single Word or PDF document
They want poems that have not been previously published in print, online, or broadcast.
They accept simultaneous submissions, but please withdraw your submission or contact them if it is accepted for publication somewhere else first.
To explore the theme further, please click here.
5. Briefly Write Poetry Prize
The Briefly Write Poetry Prize celebrates and rewards bold, succinct writing. They want well-crafted poems up to 10 lines. “We want innovative language, strong imagery and a subtle, focused composition. Send us your best brief writing.”-BWPP
Deadline: 31st July 2024, 23:59 BST | Compensation: £75
How to enter:
Poems must be original and never previously published (including self-published) online or in print.
Please do not submit work that is under consideration elsewhere. Once submitted, your entry cannot be withdrawn.
Your poem must be 10 lines or fewer. Your title is not included in this line limit.
Only entries made via the online form (link below) will be considered.
By entering the Briefly Write Poetry Prize, you are granting them first electronic rights only. Copyright reverts to the author upon publication.
Results will be published online by the end of October 2024.
6. The Miles Morland Foundation Writing Scholarship
MMF annually awards a small number of Morland Writing Scholarships, with the aim being to allow each Scholar the time to produce the first draft of a completed book. The Scholarships are open to anyone writing in the English language who was born in Africa, or both of whose parents were born in Africa.
Deadline: 31st July 2024 | Compensation: £18,000
Things to note:
At the end of each month scholars must send the Foundation 10,000 new words that they will have written over the course of the month.
Scholars are also asked to donate to the MMF 20% of whatever they subsequently receive from the book they write during the period of their Scholarship.
To enter:
A candidate must submit an excerpt from a piece of work of between 2,000 – 5,000 words, written in English that has been published and offered for sale. You must send clear evidence that the piece you upload as part of your application has been both published AND offered for sale.
Academic or scientific research, or works of special interest such as religious or political writings do not qualify.
The candidates should submit a description of between 400 – 1,000 words of the work they intend to write. The proposal must be for a full length book of no fewer than 80,000 words.
If you are shortlisted for a Morland Writing Scholarship, you will be asked to send a 3,000 – 4,000 word “chapter” of the book you are proposing to write on your scholarship year.
In 200 – 300 words write something about yourself and your background.
Each Scholar will be offered the opportunity to be mentored by an established author or publisher.
A scan of an official document showing that you, or both of your parents, were born in Africa will be required.
7.National Playwright Competition in partnership with HEINEKEN Beverages (South Africa)
The competition seeks to discover and award emerging playwrights and so only writers who have not had their scripts or other work professionally produced and staged are eligible to enter. Previously unpublished and unproduced South African scripts that celebrate and enhance inclusivity and social cohesion will be eligible for consideration.
Deadline: 3rd August 2024. | Prize: Total of R45,000 + Production
Submission guidelines:
The competition is open to debutante scriptwriters who are over the age of 18 years and residents of South Africa, and have completed high school
The winner of which will have his/her play produced at The National Arts Festival 2025, at various theatre houses across South Africa.
Please submit a brief synopsis and 10 page writing sample of your proposed script in the form of a scene, a couple of scenes or even a short play that could be developed into a full length script. Do not submit a full-length script at this stage.
Proposed script must be the participants own work and can be written in any South African language.
Participants must submit the script under a pseudonym. Participants must ensure that his/her name is not on the cover page or anywhere else on the script. The participants’ full names must however be set out in the competition entry form.
For more guidelines and to submit, click here.
8. Roots of My Fears: Call for Submissions
Editor, Gemma Amor, is pleased to announce an open slot in the upcoming anthology to be published by Titan Books: Roots of My Fears.
Deadline: 4th August 2024. | Compensation: $0.08 per word
More information:
Editor on theme: “We are leaning heavily into family or heritage lore with this anthology, and are looking for stories influenced or inspired by:
Tales authors may have heard/been told as a child, by a relative or loved one
Lore passed down from previous generations
Family anecdotes or secrets
Ancestral customs and cultural traditions
Hometown rumours, legends, myths, (or even lack thereof)
Identity, heritage, upbringing
Basically anything that sings to a writer’s memories, blood, inheritance, birthright, upbringing, sense of belonging, geography or again, lack thereof.
The aim is to invoke both ancient and modern narratives, where background plays a key role, positive or otherwise.
No reprints. This call has a strict 5k word limit. Anything over 5k words will be immediately discounted.
Horror only. No sci-fi, fantasy, romance or crime.
Formatting: Double spaced lines, properly indented (not tabbed please). 12 point arial preferred. Page numbers are helpful.
Please state your name and word count clearly on the top of the first page of your submission.
Word files only. Do not paste your story into the body of your email. No PDFs.
Please send one story per email. Multiple stories/attachments will be immediately discounted.
Please email your submission, clearly labelled SUBMISSION: ROOTS OF MY FEARS, STORY TITLE, AUTHOR NAME to: gemma.amor@outlook.com
Feedback will be provided by September 1st.
9. Afroyanga 2.0 Bootcamp
Afroyanga Bootcamp began as a vision to create a space where young Africans could come together to share their diverse experiences and contribute to the global knowledge base. Afroyanga Bootcamp 2.0 will host 40 participants towards the creation of several high-impact Wikipedia articles, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and vibrant communities of Africa.
Deadline: until cap reached | Compensation: Free training
Things to note:
This exciting event is open to all young Africans, including students, professionals, entrepreneurs, and traders. No prior experience with Wikimedia projects is necessary.
Fill Out the Application Form: Click here to access the Google Form and complete the application questions.
Submit Your Application: Ensure all required fields are filled out accurately.
Review Process: Our selection committee will review all applications to select participants.
Notification: Selected participants will be notified via email.
The bootcamp is scheduled to hold between August 21st - 26th, 2024.
Prose of the Week
Find Ladi | James-Ibe Chinaza
Ladi laughs mostly with his crossed eyes. He snorts and jumps and kicks anything solid before him, including me.
People call Ladi an imbecile. He walks with his tongue out, and when we’re playing out in the dust, Ladi makes food out of everything he finds: tin cans, elephant grass, rotten mangoes, even snails. He once got severely injured while chewing on an old razor…
Poetry of the Week
The Origin of Silence | Vincent Ajise
& when you speak to the vicar
who composed the hymn sang at the lord’s supper,
he will tell you about the emperor
who burnt dreams to light up his garden.
death illuming the present
as the moon shed tears of luminance…
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Ocúga wulu! (Good fortune!—Fang, Equatorial Guinea)