Jakes Gerwel Foundation

24/01/2025

PEN it down | PEN dit neer

This project is presented in collaboration with PEN Afrikaans and PEN South Africa.

The aim of this programme is to offer writers (emerging and established) of all genres the opportunity to temporarily escape their everyday responsibilities, so they can work on a manuscript without interruption. No mentors are involved, and therefore the writers work at their own pace. It is not compulsory, but preference will be given to writers who include supporting letters from prospective publishers with their applications.

Applications close: 4 April 2025
Announcement of successful candidates: 2 May 2025
Residency: 2 to 22 June 2025

Read more about the PEN it down programme and other upcoming events available on our Hive: https://jgf.org.za/event/pen-it-down-pen-dit-neer/

24/01/2025

The 2025 Next Generation Indie Book Awards is open to all indie book authors and publishers including independent publishers (small, medium or otherwise), university presses, self-published authors, e-book authors, seasoned authors and even first time authors in the U.S., Canada or internationally who have a book, a manuscript, or a galley proof written in English and published in 2023, 2024 or 2025 or with a 2023, 2024 or 2025 copyright date.

Prizes:

- First place in fiction & non-fiction: $1 500
- Second place in fiction & non-fiction: $750
- Third place in fiction & non-fiction: $500
- Winner of each of the 80+ categories: $100

Submission Deadline: All books must be received by 14 February 2025

Read more about the Indie Book Awards and other upcoming events available on our Hive: https://jgf.org.za/event/next-generation-indie-book-awards/

23/01/2025

Die gesogte Nagtegaal-teksprys herleef ná 15 jaar in samewerking met die Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees en daar is groot pryse op die spel.

Pryse:
- Eerste plek: R100 000
- Tweede plek: R50 000
- Derde plek: R25 000

Die algehele wenner ontvang naas prysgeld, ook mentorskap en ondersteuning met die finale afronding van die teks.

Tekste moet van 60 tot 90 minute lank wees en teater as medium vir sosiale impak en kohesie verken, en tradisionele beskouings uitdaag en verruim. Diversiteit in rolverdeling is ’n vereiste en moet by die teks ingeskryf wees. Met die Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees-gehoor in gedagte, word ’n premie geplaas op tekste wat ten minste 50% Afrikaans is. Kreatiewe gebruik van meertaligheid word egter sterk aanbeveel. Tekste langer as 20 000 woorde sal nie oorweeg word nie.

Slegs Suid-Afrikaanse burgers mag inskryf.

Sluitingsdatum: Inskrywings wat later as 17:00 op 7 Februarie 2025 ontvang word, sal nie in aanmerking kom nie.

Vir enige navrae, kontak Candice Jantjies by [email protected]

Lees meer oor die Nagtegaal-teksprys en ander skrywersgeleenthede op ons Korf: https://jgf.org.za/event/die-toyota-stellenbosch-woordfees-nagtegaal-teksprys/

22/01/2025

SAfm Playwriting Competition

This is an invitation to writers to explore the medium of sound, “the theatre of the mind” by creating a 60 minutes radio play in English for SAfm. This Competition is open to any South African citizens of all ages and races.

There are no limits to the choice of topics or the style of writing: Comedy, Tragedy, Fable or Folklore, Social or Domestic Drama, Satire, “Slice of Life”.

Submissions should reach SAfm by 5pm (17:00) on 3 February 2025.

For more information or to submit your play email SAfm Drama’s at [email protected]

Read more about the SAfm Playwriting Competition and other upcoming events available on our Hive: https://jgf.org.za/event/safm-playwriting-competition/

21/01/2025

UCT Summer School 2025: HAMLET? I SAW IT ON RADIO…

This lecture focuses on the pleasures and pitfalls of adapting theatrical and literary works for radio; the advantages of radio drama over theatre – and its limitations. Does dramatising a short story or a novel involve inevitable compromise?

The lecturer will support his theories with examples of his own work and other radio playwrights such as Michael McCabe and Jack Mullen. He will also point participants towards opportunities for writing for radio, which is in many ways the most exciting medium to write for – you are limited only by your imagination.

Participants will be given access to an invaluable guide to writing for radio.

Date: 1 February 2025
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: LT3, Kramer Law Building, Middle Campus, UCT
Cost: R220 (full fee without student discount)

Tickets are available on Webtickets: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/performance.aspx?itemid=1554760829

Read more about this lecture and other upcoming events available on our Hive.

Lecture Day: 1 February 2024 This lecture focuses on the pleasures and pitfalls of adapting theatrical and literary works for radio; the advantages of radio drama over theatre – and its limitations.

20/01/2025

Mark your calendars and save the date for the following workshops at this year’s Cape Flats Book Festival from the 1st to the 2nd of February 2025:

- Flash Fiction Workshop with Kerry Hammerton
- Memoir Workshop with Sally Cranswick
- Writing stories for young readers and early learners with Amanda Sickle
- Poetry in Motion: Performance Poetry Workshop with Vusimuzi Mpofu
- Return of the Songbirds & Inspire Poetry writing workshop for children with Hani du Toit

Workshop Costs: Free
Location: West End Primary School

Read more about this year's Cape Flats Book Festival and their free workshops on our Hive.

Festival Dates: 1 to 2 February 2025 Mark your calendars and save the date for the following free workshops at this year's Cape Flats Book Festival!

17/01/2025

Story Unlikely’s Short Story Contest

There are no restrictions on genre. The story itself cannot exceed 4 000 words. There are no restrictions on age or location of participants, and no need to ask us for permission to participate in the contest.

- First place: $1 500
- Second place: $1 000
- Third place: $500

Submission Deadline: 31 January 2025

Read more about the Story Unlikely’s Short Story Contest and other upcoming events available on our Hive.

Submission deadline: 31 January 2025 There are no restrictions on genre: fantasy, sci-fi, memoir, fiction/nonfiction, etc. are welcome. AS long as it's written and told with quality and care. The story itself cannot exceed 4 000 words. There are no restrictions on age or location of participant, and...

16/01/2025

The New Writers Flash Fiction Competition is open to writers from around the world.

- First place: £1 100
- Second place: £300
- Third place: £200

There is no specific theme. Stories can be about any subject or incorporate any theme or genre, although they are seeking stories that are likely to appeal to adult readers (as opposed to those specifically aimed at children). They don’t mean the stories have to have ‘adult themes’, but something specifically aimed at teens or younger children is unlikely to make the longlist.

- Word Limit: 300
- Entry Fee: £10
- Deadline: 31 January 2025

Read more about the New Writers Flash Fiction Competition and other upcoming events available on our Hive: https://jgf.org.za/event/new-writers-flash-fiction-competition-2025/

15/01/2025

Don’t miss out on your chance to win £1 000 and publication in the Bristol Short Story Prize anthology!

Entrants must be over 16 years old on the closing date, 31 January 2025. There is no geographical restriction on entry–the 2025 Bristol Short Story Prize is open to everyone, whether they are based in the UK or outside the UK. They accept entries of up to 4 000 words from any genre and from published and unpublished authors alike. All entries must be in English, in a clear 12 to 14 point font and double spaced.

Entry Fee: £12

Read more about the Bristol Short Story Prize and other upcoming events available on our Hive: https://jgf.org.za/event/bristol-short-story-prize/

14/01/2025

Short.Sharp.Stories invites writers to Light The Dark, with their imaginative short stories around the theme of ‘Power’: the power of speech, the power of creation, Amandla – POWER! – signifies a mighty lion’s roar.

Whatever the spark is, a candle flame or casting a vote, please send in your original short story of 3000 to 5000 words, with a strong narrative drive.

Prize: The winning story will receive R10 000

Submission Deadline: 31 January 2025

Read more about Short.Sharp.Stories and other upcoming events available on our Hive: https://jgf.org.za/event/short-sharp-stories/

13/01/2025

Jane Mpholo, one of our previous mentees for the NATi Rising Stars project for emerging playwrights, will be showcasing her one woman show "Fragmented" from 6 to 8 February 2025 at PACOFS Studio 2 (Bloemfontein).

"Fragmented" is a powerful solo performance by Jane Mpholo-Mehlape, exploring the life of Dimpho, a young woman piecing together a broken past. Directed by the revered Peter Taljaard, who also crafted the stunning audiovisual design, the play combines storytelling, poetry, and striking visuals to capture Dimpho’s journey of loss and the need for survival. Using water as a symbol of memory and transformation, "Fragmented" flows between moments of betrayal, neglect, and hope, revealing Dimpho’s struggles and resilience. Inspired by real-life stories, this production takes the audience on an emotional journey filled with laughter, tears, and deep reflection, while shedding light on social issues and the strength it takes to rebuild.

Tickets are priced at R100 for general admission and R80 per person for groups of 5 or more, available at Webtickets: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1561383940

13/01/2025

Is data failing us? If that question stirs your imagination, then this international writing prize is for you!

The prize includes $100 000 and a book deal with Cambridge University Press. So if your writing promotes innovative thinking to tackle contemporary societal issues, get your thinking cap on and submit before the end of Jan 2025.

The Nine Dots Prize is an international competition and welcomes applicants that are based anywhere in the world. The only stipulation is that applicants must be 18 years of age or over. Responses and the resulting book must be in English.

Deadline: 11.59am GMT on Monday 27 January 2025

Entry fee: Free

Read more about the Nine Dots Prize and other upcoming events available on our Hive: https://jgf.org.za/event/nine-dots-prize/

10/01/2025

Seaside Gothic is a magazine from the edge of the sea where the frontier of civilisation meets the wild of the water.

They look for fiction, poetry or nonfiction that expresses the sense of border living that is shared between the coast and the ocean, where language is pushed to the horizon and words take on new form as they find their home where the sea meets the sky.

There are no submission fees.

Seaside Gothic is a paying market, however at this present time the magazine is self-funded. As such, the pay rate is currently £0,01 per word. Payment is offered for accepted submissions via PayPal upon publication.

The upcoming submission window is from the 13th January to 19th January 2025.

Read more about Seaside Gothic's submission window or other upcoming events on our Hive.

Submission deadline: 19 January 2025 Seaside Gothic is a magazine from the edge of the sea where the frontier of civilisation meets the wild of the water. They live beside the seaside and write amidst the changing of the tide on paper warped by the salt in the air and wet from the spray of the sea.....

09/01/2025

Rattle has always loved chapbooks for their brevity and intensity. So, they've decided that they wanted to do the same for chapbooks as they’ve done for poems with their Rattle Poetry Prize—provide a fair, fun, and friendly way to make the most of what they offer.

Three winners will receive:
$5000 and 500 author copies of their chapbook, which will also be distributed to all of Rattle’s 7 000+ subscribers along with a future issue of the magazine.

Open to writers, worldwide; poems must be written primarily in English. Theme not necessary. Manuscripts may include images or other artwork. Manuscripts may be 15 to 30 pages of poems.

Submission fee: $25

Submission Deadline: 15 January 2025 (11:59 p.m. EST)

Read more about The Rattle Chapbook Prize and other upcoming events available on our Hive.

Submission deadline: 15 January 2025 Rattle decided that they wanted to do the dame for chapbooks what they’ve done for poems with the Rattle Poetry Prize—provide a fair, fun, and friendly way to make the most of what they offer. Three winners will receive $5000 and 500 author copies of their ch...

08/01/2025

“'It’s a day when we don’t have to go to school,' said Lennox, a boy in my grade 8 class at Livingstone High School back in 2005. It’s Arts and Culture period. Mrs Wynguaard just asked us what Heritage Day is about. What did she think we were gonna say? ... 20 years after I left Mrs Wynguaard’s class, I called my uncle, my mother’s brother, and asked him to take me to the kaberstaan (gravesite) of his mother, my late grandmother, Salegga Jacobs (née Jaffer) – Aumie – and then to the plot of land where their house used to be in District Six."

Read Tasneem Daniels' article, ‘Reconciliation Day reflections 2024/2025’, on Paulet House stories to learn more about her journey to uncovering her ancestral origins and reconcile with the past.

“It’s a day when we don’t have to go to school,” said Lennox, a boy in my grade 8 class at Livingstone High School back in 2005. It’s Arts and Culture period. Mrs Wynguaard just asked us what Heritage Day is about. Eek! What did she think we were gonna…

08/01/2025

Submit up to three poems of any length for Mudfish’s Poetry Prize.

Cash Prize: $1 200

Winning poem and two honorable mentions will be published in Mudfish 25. All poems will be considered for publication.

Entry Fee: $20 ($3 for each additional poem)

Submit your entry by email at [email protected]

Deadline: 15 January 2025

Read more about other upcoming events available on our Hive: https://jgf.org.za/event/mudfish-poetry-prize/

07/01/2025

There are only 3 days left to enter Farnham's First Five Pages writing competition!

- First place: £1000 and a critique
- Second place: £300
- Third place: £200

Entrants are to submit the first 5 pages of their novel and a 250-word synopsis, your work does not have to be finished. There is no set theme or style of writing however your entry should be an unpublished, original story. Only fiction work will be accepted.

- Entrance fee: £10

- Deadline: 10 January 2025

If you have a query, please contact [email protected]

Read more about Farnham's First Five Pages writing competition and other upcoming events available on our Hive.

Submission deadline: 10 January 2025 Farnham Literary Festival presents Farnham’s First Five Pages writing competition. Entrants are to submit the first 5 pages of their novel and a 250-word synopsis, your work does not have to be finished. There is no set theme or style of writing however your en...