Applications call for Language Evolves Short Story Competition. The competition encourages writers to be inspired by the field of language evolution. This might include engaging with our questions, imagining situations in the past or the future, speculating on how language might have evolved in a different species, or thinking about the consequences of our methods and practice. The shortlist will be judged by Arthur C. Clarke Prize winner and biological anthropologist Dr. Mary Doria Russell (The Sparrow).

Prizes

The first-prize winner will receive a cash prize of £400 and the story will be published in the New Welsh Review (on an exclusive basis, subject to the usual editorial process). The 2nd and 3rd place stories will also be considered for publication in the New Welsh Review.

Competition Rules

The Language Evolves Short Story Competition will have the following guidelines

• Maximum length: 2500 words (excluding title, author name, and any references to academic work that inspired the story).
• Closing date: 1st December 2020.
• Entry fee: Free.
• Format: A4 paper, font point 12 double spaced. Include the title and your author’s name at the beginning, along with any citations for books or papers that inspired the story. These aspects will not be included in the word count.
• Authors will maintain copyright for their stories.
• Submission: Candidates will need to download and sign this consent form and then email it along with your story to Seán Roberts ([email protected]).

Workshop

Are you a Science Fiction author? Do you need some inspiration for your next big story? Come to a free workshop on language evolution to discover cutting-edge answers to some of the hardest questions in science:

• How did humans evolve to be able to speak?
• What was the first language like?
• How does society shape the language we speak?
• How does our language shape our thoughts?
• What will language be like in the future?

 Apply by completing this form