Africa Book Club Short Reads Competition

Are you an African writer? Do you have a story that is set in or about Africa? Africa Book Club is seeking submissions for the Africa Book Club Short Reads Competition - a monthly short story writing competition.
The Africa Book Club Short Reads Competition features short stories drawn from contributors across the African continent. They accept unpublished fiction and creative non-fiction submissions, not exceeding 3,000 words, and whose setting and context are primarily set in Africa, or written by African authors. They welcome entries that celebrate Africa’s diversity and rich story telling traditions – anything from fiction and non-fiction stories that reflect life on the continent to childhood memoirs and travel stories.
Monthly winners will receive a cash prize of $50 and two books of their choice from the Africa Book Club bookstore. Winning stories will feature on the Africa Book Club under a special “Short Reads” section. In addition, the top 30 stories from all submissions received between July 2013 and June 2014, will be considered for the annual short story anthology, to be published in the fall of 2014.

Submission Guidelines

• Submissions will be received throughout the year and can be made at any time through the online submission page – Click Here to Go to the Africa Book Club Short Reads Competition Submission Page.
• Entries must not exceed 3,000 words (suggested minimum length is 1,000 words).
• Entries must be written in English.
• There are no theme or style restrictions. They are interested in works of fiction and creative non-fiction. All genres will be considered.
• Writers can enter as many stories as they like. However, each entry can only have one story.
• Submitted stories must not have been published previously in any form. If you enter your story in another competition and you win, please withdraw your submission.
• Copyright remains with Africa Book Club. Entrants are deemed to grant them first publication rights and exclusive worldwide license over each entry submitted for one year after publication, and for publicity purposes thereafter. Selected pieces may appear in electronic format on the Africa Book Club site, other electronic forms, and in print. Entrants will be notified electronically upon receipt of their submissions.
• The Africa Book Club reserve the right to cancel this competition, and not to publish their annual anthology, where circumstances are beyond our control, of if they determine that the quantity and quality of submissions do meet the required parameters for publication.
• By submitting an entry, you agree to be bound by the above rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

a)  What are the eligibility criteria for this competition?
Africa Book Club (ABC) accept short stories, written in English, and not exceeding 3,000 words. To be eligible, a story must be set in Africa, or written by an African author (i..e a writer who is a national of any one of the countries that make up the continent of Africa). ABC do accept stories from non-African nationals provided the stories are contextually set in Africa.
b)  Do you accept poems for this competition?
This is a prose-only competition and ABC are unable to accept poetry submissions.
c)  Is there a submission fee?
No. There is no submission fee to enter this competition.
d)  Is there a deadline for submissions?
ABC accept submissions throughout the year. All short story submissions will be considered so long as they meet the right criteria, i.e. the story must not exceed 3,000 words and must be set in Africa or written by an African author.
e)  Do you accept work that is already published?
No. ABC do not accept work that has already been published. This competition is for new, unpublished work only. If your submission is accepted for publication elsewhere before they publish it on their site, they request that you inform them immediately so they can withdraw it from consideration.
f)   Will authors be paid for their stories, if published on the Africa Book Club website?
Yes. Monthly winners will receive a cash prize of $50 and two (2) books of their choice from the Africa Book Club bookstore.
g)  Will writers receive copies if their work is included in the anthology?
Yes. All authors whose stories are featured in the anthology will get two free copies.

Find out more and submit your stories at:  africabookclub.com