Stormzy’s publishing imprint #Merky Books has announced the launch of its second annual New Writers’ Prize!
First launched in 2019, the #Merky Books New Writers’ Prize is a writing competition for young, under-represented and unpublished writers aged 16-30 in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Speaking on the prize, Stormzy said: “I know too many talented writers that don’t always have an outlet or a means to get their work seen and hopefully #Merky Books can now be a reference point for them to say ‘I can be an author’ and for that to be a realistic and achievable goal.
“Reading and writing as a kid was integral to where I am today and I from the bottom of my heart cannot wait to hear your stories and get them out into the big wide world.”
Judges on the panel for the prize include comedian Guz Khan, Olympian Katarina Johnson-Thompson, author Candice Brathwaite and Stormzy himself.
All long-listed writers will be invited to the #Merky Books Writers’ Camp where they can get involved in panel talks, writing workshops, panel talks, editorial one-on-ones, as well as meeting the team. The winner of the New Writers’ Prize will receive a publishing contract with #Merky Books.
For more information on the prize and to apply, click here.