You may be aware that the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize is twenty five years old this year and the Commonwealth Short Story competition has remained largely unchanged since 1996.
To bring these two prestigious awards into the 21st Century we’re modernising and re-launching both prizes, as part of the Foundation’s cultural programme, under the new banner of Commonwealth Writers - A World of New Fiction
Commonwealth Writers is a major new initiative from the Commonwealth Foundation which unearths, develops and promotes the best new fiction from across the Commonwealth. With a dedicated website and two literary prizes, it is an online hub to inspire, inform and create a community of writers across the world. With an online writer in residence, interviews with authors and guidance from publishers and industry experts, Commonwealth Writers is also a forum where members can exchange ideas and contribute to debates.
As one of the Commonwealth Foundation’s culture programmes, Commonwealth Writers works in partnership with international literary organisations, the wider cultural industries and civil society to help writers develop their craft.
Prizes
Commonwealth Book Prize
Awarded for best first book, the Commonwealth Book Prize is open to writers who have had their first novel (full length work of fiction) published in the year of entry. Regional winners receive £2,500 and the overall winner receives £10,000. N.B. There is no longer a Best Book award.
Commonwealth Short Story Prize
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000- 5,000 words). Regional winners receive £1,000 and the overall winner receives £5,000.
Both prizes are open to Commonwealth citizens aged 18 or over.
Rules and eligibility information for both prizes, as well as the online entry forms are available at www.commonwealthwriters.org.