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Writing Opportunities 2025

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Action! Prize

Information
Closing date: 
30 January 2025
Entry: 
Unagented writers resident in the UK, Ireland and US. No entry fee
Prize: 
Publishing contract for 3 authors, First Prize £12,000 advance, Second Prize £9,000 advance and Third Prize £6,000 advance.

Faber is launching the Action! Prize, in response to research from the National Literacy TrustUK-based organisation which has campaigned since 1993 to improve literacy standards across all age groups. Excellent research information and details of the many initiatives the charity is currently involved in. www.literacytrust.org.uk. It also has a useful page of news stories on UK literacy, which links to newsletter http://www.readitswapit.co.uk/TheLibrary.aspx that reveals children's reading enjoyment is at its lowest level in almost two decades, and that the problem is most acute for boys.

The prize will be launched alongside literary manager and film/TV producer Eddie Gamarra, who will be judging the prize alongside author Kieran Larwood and with the support of EmpathyLab.

The award is now open to unagented writers in the UK and US, and calls for fast-paced and filmic, action-packed adventure stories. A publishing contract is offered to the three winners. Entries must feature a diverse cast of fully rounded characters in any one of these four age bands: 7-9, 9-11, 12-14, 14+.

Faber publisher Leah Thaxton said: "We are all alarmed at the falling number of children reading for pleasure, especially when it comes to boys; it is clear they are not finding enough of what they need on the shelves. I'm keen we offer a much wider range of instantly appealing, action-packed stories that will compete with the adrenaline rush of gaming and screens. We know books are vital to children's development, so this prize is a call-out for high octane, filmic, thrilling fiction that will get children hooked (back) into books."

Entry Criteria:


•Fiction only.
•For readers in one of these four age bands 7-9, 9-11, 12-14, 14+.
•Comprising: The first 5,000 words and a full synopsis of the novel in 500 words maximum.
•The winning entries will be fast-paced and filmic, nail-biting, high-octane adventure, action-packed and full of heart, and may feature mortal danger and/or daft humour!
•The prize is open to fiction and graphic novel submissions only, not nonfiction.

Entries close on 30 January. The winners' announcement is on 30 April. The first prize is a worldwide publishing contract with Faber with a £12,000 advance (subject to contract), the second prize has a £9,000 advance, and the third prize has a £6,000 advance.

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The Nine Dots Prize 2024/25

Information
Closing date: 
27 January 2025
Entry: 
Anyone aged 18 or over writing in English. No entry fee
Prize: 
$100,000 to write a short book expanding on your ideas

The Nine Dots Prize 2024/25

Deadline 27 January

Is data failing us? Submit your response to this question in 3,000 words to the Nine Dots Prize for the chance to receive US$100,000 to write a short book expanding on your ideas.

What is the Nine Dots Prize?

The Nine Dots Prize is a prize for creative thinking that tackles contemporary societal issues. Entrants are asked to respond to a question in 3,000 words, with the winner receiving US$100,000 to write a short book expanding on their ideas.

The aim of the Prize is to promote, encourage and engage innovative thinking to address problems facing the modern world. The name of the Prize references the nine dots puzzle - a lateral thinking puzzle which can only be solved by thinking outside the box.

The Prize was established in 2016 and has chosen four winners so far. Previous questions have considered issues around how politics is influenced by digital technologies, what home is, how the relationships between young and old affect the world, and why the rule of law has become so fragile.

Our fifth Cycle launched in October 2024 with the question 'Is data failing us?'.

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The Selfie Book Awards 2025

Information
Closing date: 
3 January 2025
Entry: 
Open to self-published authors in the UK. Registration fee of £34.50 includes six-month subscription to Bookbrunch
Prize: 
Each category winner receives £750 plus a profile in Bookbrunch

Now in their seventh year, the hugely popular Selfies book awards - powered by UK book trade journal BookBrunch and sponsored by Ingram Spark® and LitPR - will again reward three self-published authors for their publishing excellence.

Supported by the London Book Fair and Nielsen BookData, these awards recognise a vibrant part of the book market, with submissions now open for indie authors who in 2024 have published a book in one of three categories: adult fiction, adult general non-fiction, children's books. Submissions will be accepted until midnight on Friday 3 January 2025. Shortlists will be announced in February, and the three lucky winners will be announced in the London Book Fair Author HQ in March 2025.

Originally launched in the UK in 2018, this initiative highlights the very best self-published authors each year.

Jo Henry, managing director of BookBrunch, said: "We love receiving submissions for the Selfies Book awards, and every year are impressed anew by the inventiveness, energy and professionalism displayed by these authors who are taking on the responsibility of publishing their own books."

The winner in each category receives £750 plus a profile in BookBrunch and PR support for their title from LitPR, while all shortlisted authors receive free access to the London Book Fair, access to LitPR's education and empowerment resources, and membership of LBF's Author HQ club. Comprising a theatre and networking area, Author HQ provides a forum for discussions on approaches to publishing and includes networking events and 'how-to' style panels, one of which will be curated by the Selfies this year. Shortlisted authors will also be invited to a networking event at the London Book Fair hosted by IngramSpark.

The shortlisted titles are judged by experts from the book industry who are looking for:

  • A fantastic story that entertains and delights the reader
  • A well-produced book
  • An enticing cover and blurb that successfully addresses the target audience
  • An effective and creative marketing and publicity strategy that has the potential for great sales
  • All titles submitted for the 2025 awards need to have been published in English between January and December 2024. Entries will only be accepted from UK authors who are self-published, ie where the author themselves acts as the publisher of the book.

In order to register, authors should go to www.bookbrunch.co.uk, click on the subscribe button and select the 6 month subscription box, using the code SELFIESBOOKAWARDS2024. The fee of £34.50 will include a six-month subscription to BookBrunch (normally £69). Please see www.theselfies.co.uk for more details, and follow along on #theselfiesbookawards.

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