Applications are open for BlackInk New Writing Competition 2021. Serendipity and Writing East Midlands are looking for creative writers from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora to submit short stories for the 2021 edition of BlackInk’s New Writing Competition. The competition seeks to showcase new short fiction, applicants are invited to submit stories of up to 2,000 words for consideration. For the 2021 edition, the competition judges will include, Pawlet Brookes (Serendipity), Henderson Mullin (Writing East Midlands) and Jacob Ross.

Prizes

• Two winning short stories will be published in BlackInk magazine for Black History Month in October 2021 and each writer will receive £500 in prize money.
• In addition, both writers will be given free entry to The Writers’ Conference, which is organised annually by Writing East Midlands to give new writers access to leading publishing industry professionals.

Eligibility and Guidelines

• BlackInk New Writing Competition is open to applicants internationally. Applicants must be over 18 years old.
• Two awards of £500 are available, winning stories will be published as part of BlackInk magazine in October 2021.
• As the award aims to redress the underrepresentation of Black writers, applicants must be from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora.
• The selection panel alongside representatives from Serendipity and Writing East Midlands will be responsible for choosing the winners. The organisers reserve the right to select different winners if those initially chosen do not confirm their participation within 10 days of notification.
• Only one submission per applicant is allowed.
• Entries received after the deadline will not be accepted.
• Submissions should be final drafts, in prose and written in English as the main language (the use of dialects and other languages as a narrative device or in speech is allowed).
• All short stories must be the entrants own original work, be 2,000 words or less and the story should be previously unpublished (this includes self-published).
• For the purposes of this competition, the definition of short story is a work of self-contained prose fiction. Entries of poetry, scripts, non-fiction and essays are not eligible for this competition.
• Writers will retain all copyright in your submission. Serendipity will retain publishing rights for the winners.
• By entering this competition, you are agreeing that, if you win, your name and entry may be a) used for the purpose of announcing the winner and/or distributed to individuals who request details of the winner and/or b) in any related publicity by Serendipity and its partners, without additional payment or permission.
• All data collected will be processed in accordance with privacy policies, available to view at serendipity-uk.com. By submitting your short story, you agree that Serendipity may share your submission with their affiliates for the purpose of reviewing it.
• Serendipity will not be responsible unless required by law, for any loss, changes, costs or expenses, which may arise in connection with this competition and Serendipity can cancel or alter the competition at any stage.
• Any dispute relating to the competition shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales and will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

Timeline

• April 2021: Applications Open
• 30 June 2021: Deadline for Applications
• July 2021: Winning Writers Confirmed
• August 2021: Winning Writers Announced

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