[Open] 8 Opportunities for African Writers
Up to £18,000, Paid Residencies, Scholarships, Digital Publication etc
This newsletter is published every Wednesday at 5pm WAT.
1. Hellebore Press Call for Submissions on Relief
The Hellebore Press is an indie publishing house that cultivates the work of writers, poets and artists from around the globe. They are seeking submissions for their 12th issue under the theme: Relief. Topics of interest include: Family Traditions, Dynamics, & Customs; Friendships & Platonic Love; Liberation & Resistance; Release; Social Issues: Palestinian Liberation, Roe v. Wade, US Presidential Election, Healthcare, Climate Change, Sudan, Congo, etc.
Deadline: 15th July 2024 | Compensation: $25
Things to note:
Micro poetry, prose poetry, narrative poetry, flash fiction (under 1500 words), and flash nonfiction (under 1500 words) are welcome.
They are especially interested in collage/hybrid work, visual forms that blend writing with photography or illustrations, and mixed media.
Their archive is teen/young adult friendly and inclusive, so please do not send work that is violent, hateful, or gratuitous. No graphic depictions of any kind whatsoever.
2. Illino Media Virtual Writing Residency Program
Illino Media’s mission is to preserve and amplify African stories. To achieve this, they are launching a three month virtual writing residency to nurture emerging talents. This residency will be awarded to three exceptional African writers who will be provided mentorship and other benefits, and required to produce at least 6 short stories during the residency.
Deadline: 20th July 2024 | Stipend: Total of $600
Things to note:
This program is targeted at University students and recent graduates.
Residents will benefit from:
Personalized mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals
Publication on the Illino Media website
Support towards future writing goals (e.g., fellowship applications, manuscript submissions, writing competitions)
To apply, please click this link.
3. Writers Space Africa (WSA) Call for Submissions
Writers Space Africa (WSA) magazine is accepting submissions for its 93rd edition (September 2024 Edition) under the theme: Silent Battles
Deadline: 15 July 2024 | Pay: Unstated
Guidelines:
They accept submissions in the following categories:
Creative Non-Fiction – 1,200 Words maximum
Children’s Literature – 700 words maximum (illustrations may be attached and poems not longer than 24 lines)
Flash Fiction – 300 words maximum
Poetry – 1 poem, a maximum of 24 lines
Short Stories – 1,500 words maximum
Please edit your work and submit it to one category only.
Include the title and category in your submission.
Editors will revert to both selected writers and those whose works are not selected by August 2024.
The author retains the copyright.
4. Call for Applications: Alternative Heritages and The Republic Magazine
The French Embassy in Nigeria, in partnership with StoryMi and The Republic Magazine, is thrilled to announce a unique opportunity for emerging writers, photographers, and illustrators to explore and celebrate Nigeria’s cultural and historical heritages through diverse forms.
This special issue of The Republic Magazine aims to create a thought-provoking and visually stunning magazine that showcases alternative perspectives on Nigerian heritage.
Deadline: 20 July 2024 | Compensation: Residency + Unstated Stipend
Things to note:
"“Heritages” can be defined as “Alternative” when being forgotten and facing long-term peril of disappearance, or because they represent recent creations by minority, marginalized, and/or protesting groups, institutions, and individuals. It can be monuments, but also language, religion, tradition, music, history… everything that makes Nigeria such a unique and diverse country in Africa.”
Program Details:
Duration: 3 months (August - October)
Location: One week workshop residency in Ibadan (24th to 30th of August),
2-month online mentorship sessions (September-October)
Participants:
5 writers ( nonfiction preferably)
3 photographers
2 illustrators
Publication: Selected works will be featured in a special edition of The Republic Magazine, set for publication in December.
Eligibility
Age: 20-35 years old
Nationality: Open to applicants from and living in Nigeria (we will pay special attention to gender and regional diversity).
Experience: Applicants should have a strong portfolio demonstrating their creative abilities in their respective fields.
To enter, click this and fill the form.
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. Lolwe: Call for Drama Submissions
Lolwe is looking for one-act plays that are bold, different, and blurs or pushes boundaries: play with form and language, ignore genre classifications, send in your fears and joys, your doubts and faiths, your curiosities and silences.
Deadline: Unstated. | Compensation: Unstated amount
How to submit:
Only one-act plays will be considered.
You may visit this page to explore previously published drama on Lolwe.
Submit as word document, Times New Roman, 12pt, double-spaced.
Simultaneous submissions are permitted. Just remember to withdraw if accepted elsewhere.
To submit, click this link.
7. 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.
8. 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.
Call for essays: “Migration and the Writer” – The Lagos Review
The Lagos Review is seeking insightful, poignant, detailed, and well-written essays in which the writer expresses his/her/their motive for relocation or migration and the effect of that movement on their craft. “What does migration mean for us as writers, many of whom have made the journey across the seas to acquire knowledge, escape oppression, flee conflict or seek a better life?”
Deadline: Unstated | Compensation: $250
Guidelines:
They are looking for essays of 2,500 words maximum.
Please send your submissions to submissions@thelagosreview.ng
with the subject line - Migration and the Writer + Title of your piece.
Essays will be published monthly and the author, upon acceptance
of his/her/their work for publication, invests in thelagosreview.ng
the right to publish same in a book if and where the quality of writing
demands.
Prose of the Week
The Goat | Jean Pierre Nikuze (Regional Winner-Commonwealth Short Story Prize)
The day after her baby boy was stolen from the maternity ward, Achan was featured on the evening news. Kindly conceal my identity, she begged the TV crew inside her house. At least three times during the interview she pleaded, please help me get my child back.
Poetry of the Week
Bilateral Love Affair | Afua Awo Twumwa
I love my country. But America Courst me - the man with everything. I love my country: Dark, Black, Gold Yellow teeth & a hunger for me...
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Amahirwe masa (Good luck—Kinyarwanda , Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo)