Stormzy’s #Merky Books publishing imprint has announced the second edition of its annual New Writers’ Prize.
#Merky Books, launched by the UK artist in 2018 in collaboration with Penguin Random House, platforms new literary talent from underrepresented communities.
Its New Writers’ Prize competition is open to writers between the ages of 16 and 30 across the UK and Republic of Ireland. The winner will receive a publishing contract, while all shortlisted entrants are invited to a writing camp, which includes workshops, panels, one-to-one training, and more. The competition allows entries in the fiction, non-fiction, and poetry categories, although childrens’ books are excluded.
Judges on the panel include Stormzy himself, comedian Guz Khan, author Candice Brathwaite, and Olympian Katarina Johnson-Thompson, according to NME.
To enter, fill out the official application form. Entrants must submit either a 200-word synopsis and 1,500-word extract (for fiction or non-fiction), or a 200-word synopsis and 500-word extract (for poetry). Entry closes midnight, October 30.