Stormzy's #Merky Books announces second New Writers’ Prize competition

14 September 2020, 15:54 | Written by Cerys Kenneally

(News)

(Stormzy)

Stormzy's #Merky Books imprint has announced the second annual New Writers' Prize competition, which will provide an aspiring writer with a publishing contract.

Much like last year's competition, #Merky Books are looking to find unpublished, underrepresented writers aged between 16-30 for this year's New Writers' Prize.

Judges including Stormzy, author and founder of Make Motherhood Diverse Candice Brathwaite, author and broadcaster Emma Dabiri, comedian and actor Guz Khan, and British Olympian Heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson will narrow down the fiction, non-fiction, and poetry entries to a longlist announced on 14 December. The shortlist will be revealed on 5 February 2021, and the winner will be announced in March 2021.

Writers featured on the longlist will be invited to take part in their Writers’ Camp, which will introduce writers to literary agents and bestselling authors, as well as providing information about the publishing process through panel talks and workshops.

The winner will receive a publishing contract with #Merky Books, and will have a chance of writing a Literally essay to feature on WePresent in spring 2021.

Stormzy said, "I know too many talented writers that don’t always have an outlet or a means to get their work seen and hopefully #Merky Books can now be a reference point for them to say “I can be an author” and for that to be a realistic and achievable goal. Reading and writing as a kid was integral to where I am today and I from the bottom of my heart cannot wait to hear your stories and get them out into the big wide world."

Applications for the #Merky Books New Writers' Prize are open now until 30 October. Entries can be submitted at penguin.co.uk/merky-new-writers-prize.