January Roundup: Competitions, prizes, residences and so much more to apply for!
Don't miss out on several opportunities to apply for! This is our year of putting our best foot forward ✨
Hello and Salam my friends,
I hope you’re having a great writing week so far. As we near the end of January, how is writing going? Are you being kind to yourself as you approach your writing goals? Never be afraid to start over or take a break if that’s what you need, as long as you’re allowing yourself to enjoy the process.
I recently told a friend that I would love to write a book or a story where you can tell that the writer really enjoyed themselves during the storytelling. This is not to say it would have been an easy process, just an experience where you enjoyed showing up to the page and looked forward to where the words took you.
I’ll leave you with an excerpt from Jami Attenberg’s ‘This Year, Ask Yourself What Kind of Writer You Want to Be’ which has been on my mind for some time.
The words do so many different things for people. If your writing is for comfort, let it comfort you. If your writing is for process, let it be for process. If your writing is to change your life or even the world, let that change roll. If your words are a war cry, for the love of God, please howl.
Writing has been difficult with the current state of the world, particularly as we continue to witness the genocide in Palestine that has surpassed 100 days (!!). To say it has been inspiring to see South Africa take action would be an understatement. I keep returning to Paulo Friere’s proclamation in ‘Pedagogy of the Oppressed’ about how the oppressed is the one who brings about liberation. My initial reaction to reading this was a sigh of frustration (why do we always have to be the ones doing the work?), especially as I first encountered this while living in Berlin. Since then, I have learnt that his proclamation is nothing but the truth.
I urge you to keep writing as a form of resistance (a manual for this) and to continue to include Sudan, Congo, Yemen, Tigray, Palestine and other oppressed nations in your actions and prayer.
⚡️Opportunities to apply for:
There are so many competitions, prizes, residencies popping up, and my advice is always to apply because you have nothing to lose, and you don’t know what doors an opportunity may open. So here are few I’ve come across:
Future Worlds Prize: Science fiction and fantasy writers based in the UK, this one’s for you! You need to submit ~1000 words synopsis, a covering letter and 5,000–10,000 words of your novel manuscript. There’s prize money and mentorship sessions included. | Deadline: 29th January 2024
BBC Comedy Collective Bursary: A supercharged bursary scheme offering 10 places to up-and-coming writers, producers, directors and editors who’d like to develop their careers in scripted comedy. This is UK-based only. | Deadline: 31st January 2024
The Prototype Prize: Fiction, poetry and non-fiction prose are all eligible, with no restrictions on style, form or subject-matter, with interdisciplinary approaches particularly welcomed. You need to submit a proposal and a completed manuscript (there’s an option for a short- or long-form project). | Deadline: 1st February 2024
Black Rock Senegal: If you fancy an interdisciplinary residency in Senegal surrounded by other stellar artists, look no further than this opportunity founded by renowned artist, Kehinde Wiley. They extended the deadline for this recently, so take this as a sign! | Deadline: 1st February 2024
Courage to Write Grant: 10 grants of $7000 each and 20 grants of $1500 each to encourage and support writers as they further or complete a specific project. You can apply from anywhere in the world, and you need to submit a bio sketch, an application letter and a writing sample.| Deadline: 5th February 2024
The London Library Emerging Writers Programme: Stellar opportunity for a year-long mentorship, workshops, access to The London Library’s space and resources and a writing community. This is for UK writers only. | Deadline: 28th February 2024
Global Black Women’s Non-Fiction Manuscript Prize: If you’re black woman who writes non-fiction, don’t miss out on this opportunity to see your book published. You simply need to submit a pitch letter which includes a synopsis and a full outline of all chapters, and five sample chapters. | Deadline: 31st March 2024
The Bath Novel Award: A £5,000 international prize for unagented emerging novelists. You need to submit a one-page synopsis and 5,000 words of your novel manuscript (adult or young adult). If long listed, you’ll be expected to send a full manuscript. | Deadline: 31st May 2024
I’ll be cheering you on from the sidelines if you do apply! And if you need an editor to look over your work, feel free to get in touch – I offer freelance editorial services.
✍🏾Writing Prompt (is back!)
I often revisit writing prompts to generate new ideas, so here’s a snippet from a poem which gives me joy to kickstart your writing:
Feel free to share your writing in the comments:
As usual, if you found this beneficial at all, please consider paying for a subscription, and share this post with your family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances!
Till next Friday,
Suad x