Deadline: 1-Oct-23
Footnote Press and Counterpoints Arts have partnered to launch the 2023-24 Footnote x Counterpoints Writing Prize for writers from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
The prize is developed in association with the Southbank Centre, and supported by John Ellerman Foundation, Doughty Street Chambers, Spread the Word, Dartington Estate and the Bookseller.
Benefits
- The £15,000 award, which includes an advance of £5,000 and a publication agreement with Footnote Press, is for narrative non-fiction centred around themes of displacement, identity and/or resistance.
- Five shortlisted authors will be invited to read and discuss their work at a live event hosted by the Southbank Centre in February 2024 as part of the Literature spring season 2024.
- The winner and two runners-up will have the opportunity to go on a week-long writing residency to work on their book at Dartington Hall, a stunning Grade I listed heritage property set within a 1,200-acre private estate near the ancient market town of Totnes
- Footnote will also be working with London’s literature development agency Spread the Word to host an e-workshop on developing a career as a writer and 1-2-1 meetings to provide ongoing support with the winning writers, as well as access to their programme of workshops and events.
Prize Philosophy
- Refugees and migrants make hugely valuable contributions to the arts, culture and society. They have multiple, counterpointed perspectives that often combine different languages, geographies and cultural outlooks, resulting in new ways of seeing and questioning. Within the context of rising xenophobia and the brutal enforcement of borders, it is vital to keep platforming and amplifying these voices; to use the power of storytelling to combat a culture of division and polarisation. Literature, after all, is as much about bearing witness as it is about reimagining the world.
- With that in mind, Footnote Press is proud to present the Footnote x Counterpoints Writing Prize for writers from refugee and migrant backgrounds. Footnote Press very much see migration as an ongoing human condition, and the history of humanity as a history of migration. The prize is for narrative non-fiction, centred around themes of displacement, identity and/or resistance. Footnote Press welcomes eclectic and expansive interpretations of displacement, identity and/or resistance. Footnote Press is especially interested in work that sits at intersections, or across cultures, communities and borders, moving beyond the personal to touch upon some of the key social and political themes of the time.
Eligibility Criteria
- Anyone from a refugee or migrant background is eligible to submit an entry for the Prize if they are a resident of the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland whether they have previously been published or not.
- Footnote Press has deliberately refrained from setting any parameters as to what constitutes a refugee or migrant background. You are welcome to submit your work if you identify as being from a refugee or migrant background, and to define your own connection to these terms.
- There is no age restriction on who can submit an entry for the Prize but if you are aged 18 or under then those with responsibility for you must also confirm their agreement to your entry.
- Footnote Press welcomes both agented and unagented submissions.
- The submission and proposal for your book must be for narrative non-fiction, centred around themes of displacement, identity and/or resistance. Footnote Press welcomes eclectic and expansive interpretations of displacement, identity and/or resistance. Footnote Press is especially interested in work that sits at intersections, or across cultures, communities and borders, and which moves beyond the personal to touch upon some of the key social and political themes of the day.
- The submission itself (or any abridged or extended version of it) must not have been published before whether that was by a publisher or by the writer themselves or have been published by anyone else anywhere in the world including online on the Internet.
- The decision of Footnote Press and Counterpoints Arts as to whether a submission is eligible shall be final.
Submission Guidelines
- Submissions must be for narrative non-fiction, centred around themes of displacement, identity and/or resistance. Footnote and Counterpoints welcome eclectic and expansive interpretations of displacement, identity and/or resistance and are especially interested in work that sits at intersections, or across cultures, communities and borders, moving beyond the personal to touch upon some of the key social and political themes of the times.
- Submissions must consist of a sample of 8,000 to 10,000 words and a detailed proposal of c. 3,000 words, as well as a one-page cover letter.
- Your proposal must include the genre, subject matter, scope, style and structure of the proposed book and include an estimated word count for the fully written book, as well as the date by which you think you would be able to deliver the fully written book. You must be able to deliver a fully-written manuscript of 65,000-85,000 words before 30 March 2025.
- When submitting your entry, please include a short covering letter including your name, contact details, a brief biography of c. 100 words, including information on your refugee or migrant background, and any relevant information such as any previously published short works or poetry, agent details (if relevant), any social media accounts, prizes won or nominated for etc. The covering letter should be part of the same document as your submission.
- Additionally, Footnote Press will also require a 30-60 second video introduction (no need for specialist equipment, fine to just use a mobile phone or webcam) to yourself and/or your work.
- Proposals and samples must be submitted as Microsoft Word documents and preferably be double-spaced and in Times New Roman typeface of 12 point font.
For more information, visit Footnote x Counterpoints Writing Prize.