Open: Opportunities for African Writers
Up to $1000, Residencies, Contests, Digital Publication, Book Deal.
This newsletter is published every week at 5pm WAT.
1. Apply: LOATAD Black Atlantic Residency II
Generously supported by Hawthornden Foundation, the LOATAD (Library of Africa and the African Diaspora) Black Atlantic Residency seeks to break down barriers between writers from across the continent and the Diaspora by bringing them together physically, in community, around a common purpose and theme. The second iteration’s theme is African Solidarities
Deadline: 18th August 2024, 23:59 GMT | Stipend: $500 + Travel support to Accra
Things to note:
Beginner, Emerging and Established writers from and/or based in Africa, the Caribbean, North America, South America, and Europe whose work engages with issues concerning Africa and/or the Diaspora, specifically, The Black Atlantic, are eligible.
Writers of fiction, narrative nonfiction, poetry, playwrights, and academic texts with good publication credits in literary journals / magazines / newspapers, etc are eligible.
Writers can write in any language, but must be able to communicate in English.
Writers must be aged 21 or over.
Writers must own a valid passport and be willing to travel to Ghana to participate in the physical residency.
Length of Residency: 4 weeks at LOATAD, Greater Accra, Ghana
Residency Dates: February 2025 – March 2025 – April 2025
Writers must be willing to commit to the entirety of the residency programme.
Writers will produce a piece of writing between 2,500 and 10,000 words on the theme, What is Africa to Us? African Solidarities for publication in the anthology to be published by LOATAD at the end of the residency.
To apply, please fill this form.
2. Zama Short: Call for Short Stories
ZamaShort is a new project from StoryTime Publishing who brought you the StoryTime magazine, and the African Roar and AfroSF series of anthologies. If your work is accepted it will form part of an anthology to be made available distribution and sale on multiple digital platforms such as Amazon, Overdrive, Apple Books etc. Zama sees this endeavour as a partnership with you the author and as such all revenue from sales of your story (after distribution fees) will be split down the middle 50/50. Short stories may be submitted in any and all genres.
Deadline: Unstated | Compensation: Earned revenue
Guidelines:
Only verifiable African writers are eligible (writers born in Africa, or having domiciled in for over 10 years, and/or holding citizenship in an African country, or having at least one parent who was born in Africa).
The submitted work must be an original work of the submitting author, nothing that infringes the copyright of, or is derived from, another author’s work of fiction (this includes AI-generated content), is pornographic, hate speech, etc.
Story must be unpublished (not previously published in print or online).
No simultaneous submissions (only submitted to ZamaShort and no other publications).
No multiple submissions (submit only one work at a time, if it is accepted or rejected you can then submit a different work).
Single works with multiple authors will not be considered.
Submission format: Microsoft Word .doc/.docx (or Rich Text Format .rtf) UK English, double spaced, Font: Microsoft Word current default: Aptos 12pt.
Word Count: Minimum: 2000 Words, Maximum: 10k Words. For this type of publication, the sweet spot may be around 4-5k words but submissions in the range indicated will be considered.
All works to be submitted to: zama1short@gmail.com
Email header titled: ZamaShort Submission: (Author Name) (Story Name)
Email body: Name of Story
Name of Author
Genre of story (multiple if cross-genre)
Author Bio (100 words max)
Anything you might want to add about your submission or otherwise (500 words max)Email attachments:
1) Your short story in .doc .docx or .rtf in above submission format
2) Proof of eligibility/background as per term one. Preferably in .pdf format, or a photo image of an official document (Birth Cert/National ID/Passport/etc.) of yours and if required additionally the same for at least one parent.
3. 2024-2025 Quillers Mentorship Program
The Quillers Mentorship Program is a writing initiative where published authors, represented writers, and publishing professionals pair up with aspiring writers from the SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) region to guide them through their journey in the publishing industry. The mentorship consists of three choices: full manuscript, partial manuscript, and or query submission critiques (query letter + synopsis).
Deadline: 19th Aug 2024 | Compensation: Free mentorship
To apply:
Mentees must originally be from the SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) region. African countries include: Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, and Tunisia.
Create a 35-word pitch summarizing your work.
Prepare a query letter and a one-page synopsis (optional)
Check Quillers’ Mentors Page to choose which mentor (up to 2) suits you best.
Full Manuscript Critique: upload the first 3 chapters of your novel (make sure you have a full manuscript completed).
Partial Manuscript Critique: Upload first 10 pages (make sure you have a half-finished manuscript (minimum 15-20k words written) for novel length work, for picture books, a few pages will suffice).
Fill this form to begin your application.
4. Purple Shelves Call for Novel Submissions
Purple Shelves is excited to announce a call for submissions of truly authentic African and Nigerian unpublished novel manuscripts. They are looking for compelling stories that capture the essence of African experiences and perspectives.
Deadline: 20th Aug 2024 | Compensation: Book Deal
Things to note:
Manuscripts must be original works written in English, not previously published.
Only novels between 80,000 and 120,000 words will be considered.
Submissions should use the following format:
Font: Helvetica/ Font Size: 12 point/ Line Spacing: Double-spaced
Margins: 1 inch on both sides/ File Format
Submit manuscripts as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx files).
Include a cover page with the following information: Title of the manuscript/ Author’s full name/ Contact information (email and phone number)/ Word count.
Email your manuscript to submissions@purpleshelves.com (One per author). Use the subject line: “Novel Submission: [Your Title]”
Selected authors will be contacted by October 2024.
5. Jahazi Journal: Call for Articles
Following recent events in Kenya where GenZ used art to protest the proposed 2024 Finance Bill, Jahazi Journal invites articles reflecting that experience. These articles will feature in Jahazi’s issue on Digital Cultures.
Deadline: 26th Aug 2024 | Compensation: publication + unstated amount
Things to note:
Articles can capture the following topics:
The work of Tech Buddies: building apps and other tools, plus the gains and the risks.
Hashtags and Other Lingo- emergent discourse of the revolution.
Animating the movement- graphics, T-shirts, songs and dance.
Spaces- online mobilization and key voices of the movement.
The Tik-Tok Brigade- civic education and mobilization beyond the class divisions of Twitter.
The fallacies of mainstream media
Confronting Misorgyny and Womanhood
Writing about '“Gen Z”- the moment, the mindset, the lingo, the movement as part of history-making and setting.
The legalities: interpreting bills, doxxing legislators and testing the limits of freedom.
Articles should be 1000-1500 words and submitted as a Word document. Images should be submitted in JPEG format.
Send article to info@jahazi.co.ke
6. Submit to Geist
Geist is a magazine of ideas and culture with a strong literary focus and a sense of humour. The Geist tone is intelligent, plain-talking, inclusive and offbeat. They accept fiction, nonfiction and poetry.
Deadline: 26th Aug 2024 | 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. They pay up to $1000.
Poetry: send a maximum of 5 poems. We 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.
Submit under BIPOC General Submissions
7. Iko Poetry Challenge
Iko Africa is inviting poetry submissions on the theme: Where is Home? “Home can be a physical place, a state of mind, an emotion, or something else entirely. For this challenge, feel free to interpret this theme as creatively as you wish.”—Iko
Deadline: 30th Aug 2024 | Prize: N40,000 (1st) + unstated cash prizes (2nd-5th)
Guidelines:
Word Limit: Your submitted poem should be between 50 to 300 words.
Submission Tag: Post your entry with the tag #IkoPoetryChallenge.
Selection Process: The Top 12 entries with the most likes on Iko will be shortlisted for final judging.
To create an account on Iko and enter the contest, click here.
8. Longhope TV Writing Residency 2024
The Jakes Gerwel Foundation invites emerging writers to apply for the Longhope TV Writing Residency offered at their Paulet House in KwaNojoli (Somerset East, South Africa). The residency is a practical and intensive mentoring program where emerging screenwriters learn from various prominent figures in the TV industry about the finer details of this growing and competitive industry. This course is offered in collaboration with M-Net Channels
Deadline: 30th Aug 2024 | Prize: Residency + Travel sponsorship
Things to note:
If your application is successful, you will be expected to spend the duration of the residency in KwaNojoli. The Jakes Gerwel Foundation covers the travel and accommodation costs of the successful candidates. The mentorship programmes are presented in both Afrikaans and English. International applications are welcome; however, only domestic travel costs are covered by the Foundation.
To apply, you’ll need:
Filled form (click button below to fill)
A motivation letter
A pitch for an original concept for a television series consisting of the following:
A log line (35 to 45 words)
A summary of the concept (300 words)
A PDF of approximately 10 A4 pages with the first act of a pilot episode in the accepted TV text format.
Residency (candidates must confirm availability for the set dates when applying): 4 to 17 November 2024
9. Call for Submissions: Difference
Write On! Magazine is looking for submissions on the theme of Difference. They accept poetry, flash fiction, and short stories.
Deadline: Unstated | Pay: Unstated
Things to note:
Creative prose submissions should be between 800 and 1000 words and, if possible, fit the seasonal theme.
Poetry can be as short as necessary, but no longer than 500 words.
Features are generally between 1000-1500. It’s best to send your feature/essay ideas through initially, so we can finalise the topic together.
To submit, complete the Write On! submission form and email the form and your work to: pentoprint@lbbd.gov.uk
Use the Subject Line: Write On! Submission
If files are too big to email contact Pen to Print to arrange an alternative method of file transfer.
Due to the volume of submissions, pieces submitted may be held for up to six moths before we can use them. If you have any questions about retention for future use please email Write On! at pentoprint@lbbd.gov.uk
Prose of the Week
Is Femininity a Coin, a Spectrum or a Secret Third Thing | Esohe Iyare
“Rest in your femininity.” The guest repeated into the microphone with a smile. The host, bewildered asked “what’s feminine? How do you speak in a feminine way?”
No explanation came. Only a smile that said “you know what I mean.”
But what did he mean? I have been chased by several posts, reels and comments admonishing women to exude ‘feminine energy’…
Poetry of the Week
Language Hurts | Joel Oyeleke
My tongue battles with grammar.
vowels itch and consonants bring pain.
The power of syntax is cultural & a boy wrestles with language.
At dawn, ilé is home. By dusk, ilè is soil –
Same spelling, different interpretations:
sorrow and joy – interchangeable
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!
O ga-adiri gi mma (It shall be well with you—Igbo, Southeastern Nigeria)