The Literary Laddership For Emerging African Authors is calling for applications from writers far and wide, offering them support and a chance to connect with publications.
The Literary Laddership will receive any kind of work but excerpts from a lengthy work in progress (novel or novella) are recommended over shorter fiction (flash, short stories, and novelettes) The maximum word count is 3000 words across 2 different works. Authors can decide how they want to split the words. The judges are interested in observing how authors work across different pieces.
Application Guidelines
- All entries should be submitted to fellowship(at)suyidavies.com.
- Please ensure that no name/ identifying information is present in the submission document. Such information should be included in the body of the email.
- A cover letter describing the applicant’s literary qualifications should be attached to the email.
- A separate document entailing why the applicant should get the fellowship, what they will be working on, and how they will spend the funds to achieve their goals. The document mustn’t exceed two pages and must be single-spaced.
- The proposed work that the author is set to achieve must be a manuscript of minimum novella length (17,500 – 40,000 words) or novel length (i.e. 20,000+ words)
- All applicants must be aged 18 and above.
- The application deadline is 30th April 2025. Selected fellows will be announced and contacted between 30-90 days of the application deadline.
Judging Criteria
An anonymous, independent team will assess the entries based on the following criteria:
- Storytelling: The Applicant’s story must be compelling on story and craft levels. All elements must be at high levels of quality and demonstrate expertise and dexterity.
- Language and story structure: Applicant’s writing must be compelling at the sentence and structural levels, demonstrating a keen knowledge of language use and storytelling craft.
- Style/Approach/Themes: Applicants are encouraged to submit works that are risky, subversive, cross borders and attempt to bring something fresh to the literary world without being gimmicky.
- Genre: Applicants must demonstrate clear understanding of the requirements and conventions of the sub-genre of fiction in which they’re writing.
- Project plan: Applicants must demonstrate their suitability and preparedness for the requirements of the fellowship.
About The Literary Laddership For Emerging African Authors
The Literary Laddership For Emerging African Authors provides a solution to the financial hardships that local African authors often go through. The fellowship seeks to create a sustainable pathway to community and connect writers to a support network that helps set the tone for a long-term career. The founder believes that accolades and brief recognition are important, but they constitute only one step in the writer’s long road to professional publication. Currently, authors without the privilege of access and connections find it difficult to get their works published. Without the necessary support, most end up putting writing away in favour of other endeavours. It is a major goal to help authors achieve their dreams and establish their presence in the literary world.
Aspiring writers and authors are encouraged to apply in order to set themselves up for literary success. For more information, you can check out the Suyi Davies Okungbowa website Best of luck to all applicants!
Oreoluwa Odusote
Writer, poet, and dreamer.
