In our continuing series, we share opportunities for those who wish to submit work be it poetry, prose, or other related arts in November 2022. These callouts are divided into education (MFAs, Fellowships, residencies), journals, publishers, and prizes.
Education (MFAs, Fellowships, residencies).
Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop
Writing is often done in isolation, away from community. This, in itself, can make creative writing a very alienating experience for artists. The organizers of the Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop know this and that’s one reason they have established a prestigious virtual workshop for African writers living in the continent. Eligible writers are invited to apply to the inaugural edition of the Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop. Selected writers will be notified via email. There are no entry fees. Also, Attendance is free.
Facilitators will be Okey Ndibe, Tendai Huchu, Ukamaka Olisakwe, Frances Ogamba, Mubanga Kalimamukwento and Kasimma.
Deadline: November 30
Details: Click here.
Literary magazines/journals/Anthologies
Deep Vellum: The Best Literary Translations 2024 anthology
Deep Vellum is accepting nominations for the inaugural edition of an exciting new anthology initiative: The Best Literary Translations 2024. We are honoured to showcase literary translator’s work to make possible literary encounters from around the world for the English-language reader. This anthology will be an annual edition. The Best Literary Translations (BLT) has arisen out of a tangible public demand for inclusive and transparent cultural conversations. The past couple of years have brought an urgent emphasis on listening to underheard voices from cultures around the world, acknowledging who speaks and how, and naming the people who make our global literary conversations possible. BLT will offer the best of global literature in English-language translation, presenting an opportunity to expand the audience for world literature. It will deepen public knowledge and understanding of the translation process and give translators working today the recognition they deserve. This anthology will help redefine the canon of world literature and challenge the perception that only Anglophone literature matters in the cultural conversation.
Deadline: January 2, 2023
Details: Click here.
Ipikai Poetry Journal
Ipikai, an initiative of the new Zimbabwe Poets Society, and they have a callout for work with the theme “Thank God, its Friday.”
Deadline: November 24
Details: Click here.
Poda Poda Stories
Are you a Sierra Leonean writer with content to share? Submit your work for a chance to be published on Poda-Poda Stories!
Deadline: November 15
Details: Click here.
Brittle Paper Festive Anthology
Brittle Paper is launching an annual festive anthology! The anthology will feature a range of selected poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and essays all centred on festive holidays of any and every kind. So, get to writing about your favourite festive holiday, memory, tradition, or experience and send it to us!
Deadline: November 6
Details: Click here.
The Quilled Ink Review
The Quilled Ink Review is a literary journal featuring poetry, essays, and short fiction. We also aim to showcase artwork or photography on our covers and encourage you to submit your pieces for consideration if you would love to see your work grace the cover of one of our journals.
Deadline: November 20
Details: Click here.
Decolonial Passage
Decolonial Passage presents each distinct piece of writing as a passage worthy of readers’ attention in which writers create texts to articulate a variety of themata affecting the human condition including, but not limited to authenticity, liberty, alienation, dignity, community, and boundless love. Decolonial Passage publishes writing from emerging and established writers who use language and form in innovative ways.
Deadline: Not indicated
Information: Click here.
Short Fiction
Short Fiction is a high-quality online journal (previously also in print, since 2006), publishing some of the finest short stories from around the world.
Deadline: November 30
Details: Click here.
FIYAH Literary Magazine
FIYAH is a quarterly speculative fiction magazine that features stories by and about Black people of the African Diaspora. This definition is globally inclusive (Black anywhere in the world) and also applies to mixed/biracial and Afro-appended people regardless of gender identity or orientation.
Deadline: December 31 (for Jan ’23 and April ’23 editions)
Details: Click here.
Guernica
Guernica publishes poetry, essays, reportage/journalism, criticism, and fiction, and we offer honoraria of $50 for poetry, $100 for original essays, and $150 for original fiction and for reportage/journalism.
Deadline: Not indicated
Details: Click here.
Publishers
Ankara Press
Ankara Press was started in 2015 as the imprint of Cassava Republic Press devoted to publishing romance by Black writers. We are thrilled to announce that we are open for submissions! We are now accepting romance, horror, fantasy, and all other genres of pop fiction.
Deadline: November 30
Details: Click here.
Ouida Books
Ouida Books calls on all writers of unpublished fiction and nonfiction to send us their works. We look forward to receiving your manuscripts.
Deadline: Not indicated
Details: Click here.
Prizes
UJ Arts & Culture and the Johannesburg Institute for Advance Study Writing Competition.
UJ Arts & Culture and the Johannesburg Institute for Advance Study (JIAS) at the University of Johannesburg are launching a writing competition. Short form writing in any language that expresses experiences of Johannesburg’s public spaces are eligible. Submissions should be maximum 4000 words in length, with no minimum word limit, and can be fiction or non-fiction in any literary form including poetry, prose, play or a film script. Authors from all age groups are welcome but must be previously unpublished. The writing should describe, discuss or be set in a specific public space somewhere in greater Johannesburg
Deadline: November 30
Details: Click here.
Awele Creative Trust Prize 2022
The Awele Creative Trust is a non-profit organisation created to provide an enabling environment and platform for creative young persons founded by Chika Unigwe. Its annual prize the Awele Creative Trust Award, valued at ₦50,000, rewards a short story of up to 5,000 words by a Nigerian writer aged between 16 and 26.
Deadline: December 31
Details: Click here.
Hurston/Wright Legacy Awards 2023
The Hurston/Wright Legacy Awards are open to Black writers in America and across the globe. Full-length books of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for adult audiences. We have added a distinct category for speculative fiction which can include young adult novels. Books must be published in the United States.
Deadline: January 21, 2023
Details: Click here.
The Plaza Prizes
The Plaza Prizes mission is to discover writers and artists from all over the globe and connect them to the creative industries in the UK so that both they, and their work, may flourish and enrich our collective consciousness.
The Plaza Prizes worth £20,000 have made a worldwide call for entries in Short Story, Memoir First Chapter, Crime First Chapter, Literary Fiction First Chapter, Sudden Fiction, Poetry, Prose Poetry. Judged by Roland Watson-Grant, Toby Litt, Tara Laskowski, Sam Blake, Richard Skinner, Maya C. Popa, and Simon Trewin.
Deadline: November 30.
Details: Click here.
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Prize for South African Writing
The University of Johannesburg Prize for South African Writing, also known as the UJ Prize, was established in 2006 for South African writers regardless of whether they have a connection with the university or not. Previous winners include Mandla Langa, Jacob Dlamini, Rešoketšwe Manenzhe, Gabeba Baderoon, and Zakes Mda, among others. The UJ Prize is open to books published in English language and has two categories: the Main Prize and the Debut Prize.
It comes with a cash prize of R75 000 for the Main Prize, and R35 000 for the Debut Prize. Publishers must specify whether they are entering for the Main Prize or the Debut Prize.
Deadline: January 31, 2023
Details: Send books by courier to
Ms Dikeledi Seranyane,
University of Johannesburg,
English Department,
B-Ring 713
Kingsway Road, Auckland Park
Johannesburg, South Africa
Tel. 011-5592063
Afritondo Short Story Prize 2023
This Afritondo Short Story Prize is making a call for writers to respond to the theme of “aliens”: unfamiliar things, unfamiliar people, how they are received and lived with or rejected, how they change families, communities, societies. The winner will receive a cash prize of $1000. Four other shortlisted writers will get $100 each. The longlist will be published in an anthology. It will be judged by Doreen Baingana, Ayesha Harruna Attah, and Efemia Chela.
Deadline: December 16, 2022.
Details: Click here.
Kalemba Prize
The Kalemba Prize celebrates contemporary Zambian short fiction. Established in 2017, the annual prize is awarded for the best unpublished short fiction by a Zambian writer. The 2023 short story Prize is open for submissions.
Deadline: December 10, 2022
Details: Click here.
The Island Prize for Fiction.
The Island Prize for Fiction, in its second year, seeks to recognize and provide support for emerging literary talents from Africa. It invites submissions of unpublished debut literary manuscripts from authors across the African continent.
Deadline: January 6, 2023
Details: Click here.
The James Currey Prize for African Literature
The James Currey Prize for African Literature is an annual award for the best unpublished work of fiction written in English by any writer, set in Africa or on Africans in Africa or in Diaspora.
Deadline: April 1, 2023
Details: Click here.
Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry 2022
The Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry, under the auspices of the African Poetry Book Fund and in partnership with the literary journal, Prairie Schooner, is an annual award of USD $1,000. Established in 2015 and named for the literary philanthropist Glenna Luschei, this Pan African Poetry Prize is the only one of its kind in the world and aims to honor and promote African poetry written in English or in translation and to recognize a significant book published each year by an African poet.
Deadline: December 1
Details: Click here.
The Jericho Prize
The Jericho Prize, open to unpublished Black British writers, is a new award for writing for children aged four years plus (picture books) and seven to nine (short chapter books). Each submission must include a Black or mixed-Black main character.
Deadline: November 7
Details: Click here.
