£15,000 prize launched for writers from refugee and migrant backgrounds

New Prize Seeks to Amplify Refugee and Migrant Voices in Fiction

A £15,000 prize has been launched by two arts organisations to celebrate fiction written by writers from refugee and migrant backgrounds. Footnote Press and Counterpoints Arts have teamed up for the second time, this time focusing on fiction after a successful nonfiction award last year.

The Footnote x Counterpoints prize for fiction aims to uncover fresh literary voices that reflect the experiences of migration. The winning writer will receive £7,500 cash and an advance of £7,500 from Bonnier Books UK's imprint, Footnote Press, to publish their work.

Judging panel
A star-studded judging panel has been assembled, including author Dina Nayeri, Waterstones' head of books Bea Carvalho, Footnote Press commissioning editor Serena Arthur, and Counterpoints Arts director Almir Koldzic. The panel's chair praised the prize as "especially necessary and urgent" in a time of deepening divisions.

Eligible writers must be based in the UK or Ireland and submit an 8,000-10,000-word sample along with a synopsis of at least 1,500 words. The shortlist will be announced in May, and the winner revealed during Refugee Week in June.

A winning entry was announced last year for nonfiction, which went to Sabrin Hasbun for Crossing: A Love Story Between Italy and Palestine. Published in May, it is a memoir tracing the love story between Hasbun's Palestinian father and her Italian mother.

The prize marks an exciting development for migrant writers' voices in the UK literary scene.

this is such a great initiative! i think its amazing that they're giving a platform to these underrepresented voices . its like, we need more stories from people who have actually lived through migration and the struggles that come with it . its not just about writing about it, its about amplifying their experiences so we can really understand what thats all about . i mean, £15k is a pretty sweet prize too

I think this prize is super cool! It's like, finally, there's something being done to help people from refugee backgrounds have their stories told. I mean, we all know how hard it can be to find your voice when you're living in a new country and feeling like an outsider. So, for the authors of these stories to get recognized and published is just amazing!

And it's not just about them, it's also about helping change the way people think about migration and diversity. We need more voices from different backgrounds to share their experiences and show us that we're all human beings with stories to tell.

I love that the prize offers a nice chunk of money to help publish their work too - that can really make all the difference for an author. And, it's cool that the judging panel is made up of people who are passionate about promoting diverse voices in literature. Fingers crossed for the winner!

I'm loving this new prize! £15k is like, totally enough to help writers escape their "writing room" . Seriously though, it's about time we give a voice to those who've had to navigate multiple worlds – I mean, who needs a superhero origin story when you can write about being a refugee? Just kidding, this is amazing and I'm sure the winner will be able to tell some incredible stories. Dina Nayeri on the judging panel is no joke, she's like a literary legend! And £7,500 advance from Bonnier Books UK sounds like a sweet deal – guess that'll help them pay for all the therapy sessions they need after writing about their traumatic experiences

I'm thinking about what this prize means for our society... It's like, we're so used to hearing stories from people who have been here forever, you know? But the thing is, those experiences are already being told in a certain way, by certain authors, for a certain audience. And now, this prize is like, it's shaking things up, bringing in new perspectives, fresh voices... It's not just about the writing itself, but what it says about us, as a society.

I'm also thinking about how this prize is not just about giving a platform to migrant writers, but also about challenging our own biases and assumptions. We're still learning, growing, evolving... And that's okay. The fact that we're willing to listen, to learn from each other, that's what matters. It's like, the more stories we hear, the more empathy we develop, right?

It's about time someone gives a platform to people who've been through some of the toughest experiences imaginable. I mean, can you imagine having to leave your home, your family, everything behind just because of where you were born? It's heartbreaking. This prize is not just celebrating their voices, it's also acknowledging that their stories matter.

And what's beautiful is that it's not just about giving a platform, but also about providing the means for them to share those stories with the world. The fact that they're getting an advance to publish their work is huge. It's like, we get it, your voice matters, and now we're going to help you make some noise.

I'm excited to see what kind of fresh perspectives this prize will bring to our literary scene. And I'm sure it'll be a great read too!

omg u guys! i'm so hyped about this new prize!!! they're giving £15k to writs from refugee & migrant backgrounds, which is, like, SO necessary!! i mean, we need more diverse voices in lit, esp since there's been so much division lately... it's a great way 2 celebrate the experiences of migration . and the panel is stacked! dina nayeri & almir koldzic are both, like, legends . i'm def checking out this prize & submitting my own entry

I don't think it's fair that they're making a big deal about a £15k prize to make up for all the struggles these people face. I mean, what's a few grand going to do? They should be focusing on actual solutions like better jobs and housing, not just a fancy book deal.