The call for submissions for the 2024 Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize is currently open until July 1. This holds particular significance as Wasafiri marks its 40th anniversary and the 15th year of the prize. Writers are encouraged to submit their fiction, poetry, or life writing entries without delay.
Established in 1984, Wasafiri stands as the UK’s premier magazine for contemporary international writing, renowned for its exploration of cultural journeys, diverse histories, and commitment to pushing the boundaries of literary culture.
The annual Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize, initiated in 2009, supports writers yet to publish a full-length book, with inclusivity regarding age, gender, nationality, or background. Notable past participants include Akwaeke Emezi, Caleb Femi, and Louise Kennedy.
Winners in the Fiction, Life Writing, and Poetry categories will receive a £1,000 cash prize and publication in Wasafiri’s print magazine. Additionally, winners and shortlisted writers can avail themselves of mentoring schemes and career discussions, along with a one-year print subscription to Wasafiri.
The judging panel for this year comprises Margaret Busby (Chair), Cristina Rivera Garza (Life Writing), Meena Kandasamy (Poetry), and Isabel Waidner (Fiction). Margaret Busby expresses excitement about judging texts that foster dialogue and serve as a reminder of the possibilities when imagination transcends boundaries.
Isabel Waidner, the Fiction judge, seeks adventurous and inventive works that approach literary form with urgency and criticality, recognizing humor as a strategy of resistance. Cristina Rivera Garza, the Life Writing judge, anticipates courageous, inquisitive, and path-opening pieces. Poetry judge Meena Kandasamy is on the lookout for poetry that elicits a deep emotional response, prompting prayer, tears, or a raised fist in solidarity.
Eligibility requirements stipulate that participants should not have published or signed a contract for a book-length work, excluding self-published works or poetry chapbooks. Entries must be in English, not previously published in any form, and exclusivity is required during the competition period.
Submission guidelines specify a 3,000-word limit, and entries should stand alone as complete works, irrespective of being extracts from longer works. Poetry entries may consist of up to three poems, each submitted as a separate document. Anonymity is crucial, with no author identification on manuscripts.
Manuscripts must be typed in a legible font, size 12, double-spaced, A4 format, and submitted as .doc files. Alterations post-submission are not allowed.
The submission fee, £12 for a single entry, £16 for a double entry, and £6 for a single subsidized entry, confirms acceptance through the website. Multiple entries are permitted.
The submission deadline is July 1, 2024. Shortlisted entrants will be notified in September 2024. Best of luck to all participants!
Submit here.
