[GIST]2018 Commonwealth Short Story Prize opens for entries September 1

The 2017 Commonwealth Short story Prize will open for entries from September 1, according to an announcement on the competition’s website.

Awarded for a piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000-5,000 words) in English from a writer from any of the Commonwealth countries and Zimbabwe, the prize debuted in 2012 after the fold up of the Commonwealth Book Prize.

With regional winners taking £2,500 and the overall winner receiving £5,000, the prize has received thousands of entries since it was first launched, with Ugandan, Jennifer Makumbi being the first African to win the overall prize with her story, Let’s Tell This Story Properly.

For the 2017 prize awarded on June 30th, Nigerian writer Akwaeke Emezi won the regional prize for Africa with her story Who is Like God while India’s Anushka Jasraj’s Drawing Lessons won the prize for Asia region with Tracy Fells, (UK) The Naming of Moths claiming the prize for Canada and Europe region. For the Pacific region, Australian Nat Newman claiming the Pacific Region prize with The Death of Margaret Roe. Ingrid Persaud, (Trinidad and Tobago) claimed the Carribeean prize with her The Sweet Sop which went on to claim the overall prize. 

From September 1, interested eligible writers may enter by downloading the entry forms from the Commonwealth writers’ website where entry and eligibility rules may also be viewed. Entries will be received until November 1, 2017.