Closing Soon: Opportunities for African Writers
Up to $2000, Book Deals, Contests, Fellowships, Digital Publication etc
This newsletter is published every Wednesday at 5pm WAT.
1. Submit to Undergrxnd: Metamorphosis
Undergrxnd is an African youth run magazine for youth. For their tenth issue they are seeking submissions exploring the concept of METAMORPHOSIS, not just as a biological process, but as a metaphor for change, growth, renewal and transformation.
Date: 25th April 2025 | Pay: Unstated
Things to note:
They only consider the first 100 submissions made in every category.
For prose and poetry, format your work either in Times New Roman or Spectral, size 12, double line spacing.
Poets are invited to submit five poems, all in one document. Please do not send fewer than five poems.
Nonfiction writers are invited to submit one feature article, or any non fiction work between 2,000 and 5,000 words in length.
Fiction writers are invited to submit one short story between 2000 and 5000 words.
Multiple submissions will be disqualified.
They do not publish previously published works, whether on social media, your blog or elsewhere, but they may make exceptions for exceptional works.
They request you do not put any identifying piece of information in your submission document.
Please note that while simultaneous submissions are welcome, they would like to be informed if your work is accepted elsewhere.
2. Toyin Falola Prize 2025
This Prize is created in honor of the Distinguished African scholar and foremost historian, Professor Toyin Falola. This year, it invites young African writers to craft narratives exploring the intricate intersections of Nature, Mother, Life, Earth, Technology, and Artificial Intelligence. Submissions should delve into the complexities, tensions, and points of unity within these relationships.
Deadline: 25th April 2025| Prize: $1,000
Things to note:
There is no limit to the number of words; however, submissions within the range of 1,500 – 4,500 words are preferred.
Writers are only allowed to submit one entry.
All entrants must be African.
All submissions must be the original work of the entrants, previously unpublished in any form, and not under consideration for publication or a prize somewhere else.
All submissions should be attached as a doc. file, named as the title of the submission (without the name of the entrant) and formatted in 1.5 line spacing, Book Antiqua font, size 12.
The body of the submission email should not contain the bio of the entrant, just the title of the submission, word count, genre, full name, and contact information. Bios of the entrants will be requested upon selection.
Submissions should be sent to prize@lunaris.com.ng with the subject “TOYIN FALOLA PRIZE SUBMISSION.”
No erotica.
3. Submit to Geist
Geist is a magazine of ideas and culture with a strong literary focus and a sense of humour. They accept fiction, nonfiction, poetry and hybrid works but they are especially seeking nonfiction works—longer essays for their features section and shorter essays for Notes and Dispatches
Deadline: 25th April 2025 | Compensation: up to $1000
Guidelines:
Short non-fiction (around 800-1500 words, flexible): typically personal narratives. They are interested in writing grounded in a sense of place, historical narrative, personal essays on art, music and culture, profiles of ordinary people with extraordinary stories, fascinating fields of work, practices or hobbies, and everyday occurrences that show the humour and strangeness of life.
Longer non-fiction 1500-5000 words
Short stories up to 5000 words. They usually publish one story per issue, so please send only your best work.
Poetry: send a maximum of 5 poems. They pay $100 per page.
Word Count: insert word count at the top of the first page
Font: 12 point Times Roman
Line Space: 1.5
Margins: 1.25 inches
Page Numbers please, at the bottom right corner on every page
Include your street address (Canadian residence) in your cover letter.
For Hybrid works: they like work that crosses genres or that surprises in other ways. Send photo essays, maps and poetry comics! Your interdisciplinary forms and your visual-textual mashups!
Submit under BIPOC General Submissions
4. Creative Writing Masterclass: The Mechanics of Plot
WriteLab Seminars presents a free fiction writing masterclass on the mechanics of plot to be facilitated by Joshua Chizoma. Chizoma has been a finalist for the Isele Prize for Nonfiction, the Gerald Kraak Prize, the Miles Morland Scholarship andhas been nominated for the Pushcart prize. His Story, "Collector of Memories" was a finalist for the Afritondo Short Story Prize 2020 and was subsequently selected as a finalist for the 2022 AKO Caine Prize for African Writing. He was selected for the 2019 Purple Hibiscus Workshop taught by Chimamanda Adichie.
Date: 27th April 2025, 4pm GMT +1 | Pay: Free Masterclass
Things to note:
To be considered for this free workshop, please send an original fiction sample under 1000 words to consultwritelab@gmail.com
5. Submit to Strange Horizons
Strange Horizons is a speculative fiction magazine. They have annouced an Afrosurrealist Special Issue. Here, “the boundaries between the real and the unreal blur, where reality bends, time fractures, and the living and the dead exist side by side. Afrosurrealism has long given shape to our struggles, our power, and our dreams. This special issue seeks to bring those visions to life through stories that cut deep—tales that unsettle, haunt, and liberate.”—SH
Deadline: 30th April 2025| Pay: unstated amount
Things to note:
They are looking for:
Worlds that slip between the mundane and the uncanny, the ghostly and the futuristic.
Worlds rich with history and spirit striving to manifest—whether set in the past, present, or futures unknown.
Tales of hauntings, doppelgängers, liminal spaces, memories, and places that don’t stay put.
Give us your tales of portals that lead to nowhere, of cities that rearrange themselves overnight, of people becoming someone—or something—else.
Narratives that challenge traditional structures and defy linear storytelling.
Works that experiment with or reimagine genres like sword & soul, jujuism, cyberfunk, or Black gothic horror.
Visions of power, freedom, and transformation shaped by the Black experience where Blackness itself is a force that bends time, space, and destiny.
Fiction (2,000 – 7,000 words); the editors are looking for the bizarre, otherworldly, dream-like and uncanny realities that are staples of Afrosurrealism, they can be historical or contemporary, or set elsewhere.
Poetry (of any length or complexity); the editors are looking for speculative poetry that plays with form, language, and genre.
Non-Fiction (2,000 – 3,000 words). The editors want new perspectives on Afrosurrealism, especially by voices underrepresented in the genre.
6. The Literary Laddership for Emerging African Authors
Founded by Suyi Davies Okungbowa, the Literary Laddership is a three-component writing fellowship to support, elevate and connect emerging fiction authors of African descent writing from Africa. It involves a funded digital residency, access to community of practice, and publishing ecosystem.
Deadline: 30th April 2025| Prize: Funded Fellowship
Things to note:
To apply, submit the following information to: fellowship@suyidavies.com. (Kindly ensure that no name or identifying information is present in the submission documents/materials. Such information may be present in the email body).
Cover letter: In the email body, briefly describe your basis for meeting the eligibility criteria.
Writing sample: A sample of 3,000 words max (doc, docx, pdf), across 2 different works, split however the author wishes.
They will receive any kind of work, but excerpts from a lengthy work-in-progress (novel or novella) are recommended over shorter fiction (flash, short stories, novelette). Please do not send in one work of 3,000 words. Judges would like to see how authors work across different pieces.
Project description, fellowship plan, budget: A separate document (2 pages max, single spaced) detailing:
why you should get this fellowship
what you will be working on while here
how you will spend the funds to achieve this plan
The proposed work in your plan MUST be a manuscript of minimum novella-length (i.e. 17,500 - 40,000 words) or novel length (i.e. 40,000+ words).
All applicants must be aged 18 and above.
Response time: *Selected fellows will be announced (and contacted) between 30-90 days from the application deadline.
Advisors who will offer guidance and support through out this project include: Dhonielle Clayton (Author of Shattered Midnight) , Tade Thompson (Author of Wormwood Trilogy), Makena Onjerika (Caine Prize Winner 2018), Ukamaka Olisakwe (Author of Ogadimma), Kwame Mbalia (Author of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky), Wale Lawal (Editor of The Republic Journal), and Wole Talabi (Author of Shigidi and The Brass Head of Obafulon).
7. Author of Tomorrow Award for Adventure Writing
The Author of Tomorrow Award is designed to find the adventure writers of the future. Part of the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, it is an annual competition open to young people across the world who have completed a short piece of adventure writing in English. Prizes are awarded in three categories:
Deadline: 30th April 2025, 23:59 BST | Prize: £1,000
Things to note:
Each shortlisted author also has their work digitally published on Booksmart, an app and online library run by global literacy charity, Worldreader. Each story will be online and available for readers anywhere in the world there is internet.
This contest is open to writers who are aged 21years and below.
Stories entered must be in English and within the word count specified for the category being entered. The word count 16-21-year olds is 1500-3000 words.
Stories entered must be your own original work, written independently by you.
Stories must be entered in the category applicable to your age on the date of submission.
On the date of submission, stories entered must not have won another competition or have been published outside of your academic institution.
You must notify them if your story is published outside of your academic institution, or you are shortlisted or win another competition with it, prior to the date that the shortlist is announced. If they believe there is a conflict of interest, we reserve the right to withdraw your entry.
You may submit multiple stories. Each story must be submitted separately and will be considered a separate entry.
Entries must be submitted digitally, as a Word .doc or .docx.
There must be no reference to your name or other personal details in the manuscript.
If your entry is shortlisted it will be published on Worldreader’s BookSmart app under your name. By entering the competition, you agree to your story being published in this way. The story will be online and available free of charge for readers anywhere in the world there is internet. You still own the story.
8. The Andrée Blouin Prize
Andrée Blouin (1921–1986) was a political activist and writer from the Central African Republic (CAR) who became integral to the fight for independence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and this prize is set up in her honour.
The Andrée Blouin Prize by Inkani Books supports African women who write about history, politics, or current affairs from a left perspective. The prize foregrounds voices of colour but is open to all women living on the African continent. .
Deadline: 30th April 2025, 11:59 SAST | Prize: $2000 + Book deal
Things to note:
Writers may only submit ONE entry. Repeat entries by the same writer will all be disqualified.
Submissions must be a maximum of 50,000 words or 150 pages in length.
Manuscripts must be submitted in English. While you are free to incorporate other languages into your manuscript, it must be able to be understood fully by its English content.
Simultaneous submissions are not welcome. Any manuscript entered or published elsewhere during the course of judging and publication will be disqualified. The manuscript must not have been previously published (traditionally or self-published) as a book in any format.
To facilitate easy reading and judging, please format your submissions according to this format :
Times New Roman, 12-point size, double-spaced.
On the front page, put your manuscript title and name in all caps, in the centre, and an accurate word count at the top right hand corner.
Please number the pages and left-justify your paragraphs.
Put the word “End” after the end of your text, centred, on its own line.
Accepted file formats: .doc, .docx, .odt
9. Apply to the African Liberty Writing Fellowship
The 2025 African Liberty Writing Fellowship is looking for writers who are passionate about shaping public policy debates through their craft. The fellowship helps sharpen your skills and get you published in top media outlets across the continent. It is a project by Students For Liberty.
Deadline: 30th April 2025 | Prize: Funded fellowship
Things to note:
This is a paid fellowship. Compensation is contingent upon a monthly assessment. Please note that they do not consider financial compensation until a fellow is inducted.
Only 25 fellows will be inducted
An applicant has to be enrolled in, or must have graduated from, an African institution of higher learning. Or, be an African pursuing higher education outside the continent.
This fellowship is an online program with a 5-week training runnning from 26 May 2025 to 23 June 2025.
The writing fellowship starts on 15 July 2025, and ends on 15 July 2026.
Please contact the editor, ibrahim Anoba (ianoba@africanliberty.org) for any questions.
To apply, fill this form.
10. Ma Kẹkẹ Short Story Contest X The Ama Ata Aidoo Award
Gemspread Publishing in partnership with the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) and the Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA) presents this short story contest aimed at celebrating emerging voices on the continent. The writing prompt for this contest is: Voices in exile.
Deadline: 5th May 2025, 11:59 (GMT +1)| Prize: $500 + Writing Workshop + Book Deal
The “Ma Kẹkẹ Short Story Contest x The Ama Ata Aidoo Award” is open only to unpublished writers of African descent living on the continent.
For the purposes of this contest, an unpublished writer is a writer who has not authored a book prior to 6th May 2025
Previous winners of the usual, monthly Ma Kẹkẹ writing contest can participate.
Only fictional prose is expected; plays and poetry are not eligible.
Your manuscript must contain five thousand (5,000) words only (any manuscript outside a margin of ±1% will be disqualified).
Your submission must be your original, unpublished work; published works are not eligible.
The manuscript you submit to the contest must not have been entered into any other competitions running concurrently.
Manuscripts must be blinded (i.e., identifying information like name, contact, etc., should not be included in the manuscript).
Click here to enter.
Hello friend,
If you or someone you referred have received an acceptance for any of the opportunities listed on African Writer Weekly, please share your win to encourage the work we do!
Prose of the Week
Back to Base| Roseline Mgbochidinma
Ezra made Ijeuru show up as many things.
When he felt juvenile, he handed her a simple Barney costume. When he was sad, he made her wear a Wasp ensemble: amber, faded, ill-fitting, striped. When he felt tired, he kept it simple: a frog, webbed feet, big-eyed, green. Often though, he mixed and matched as he deemed fit. She would have on a dinosaur costume on her head, a big bad bear around her torso, high-heeled crocs on her feet, and heavy suede trousers gripping her thighs. In full costume, she’d prance around from pillar to post while children tugged her tail or thumped her back, their voices resounding like cymbals in her eardrums—happy voices and mindless coos, bad for her spine, good for business…
Poetry of the Week
Anything but Yours | Michelle Ivy Alwedo
I brewed myself a cup of sunlight
and poured it into my diary—
then drank the words,
one by one.
I folded my sorrow
into an envelope…
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Yoo geno reene (Good luck —Fulfude, Northern Nigeria)
Thank you!
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