Nearly sixty years ago, a young man from Northern Rhodesia received a letter from a publisher in London, intrigued to be opening a window into African history and culture. It was a letter that changed the course of that man’s life, launching a career that spanned decades and saw over 140 million global book sales. That man was, of course, Wilbur Smith.
Every published author was once a debut author and, just like her fellow ‘proudly South-African’ author, Wilbur Smith, Zee knows what it’s like to have a burning passion for writing and a wish to share it with the world.
Zee is a proud supporter of the Wilbur and Niso Foundatation – the Foundation founded in 2015 to support writers, promote literacy and advance adventure writing as a genre. Through the Foundation they work across the globe, with readers and writers of all ages.
New Voices
The New Voices Award supports writers to develop an idea they’ve yet to commit to paper, or those in the very early stages of their work in progress. The Award provides mentorship and editorial guidance for aspiring authors and encourages entries from all writers, including those from underrepresented backgrounds with a new story to tell.
Could you be the next New Voice?
It is with Wilbur’s incredible legacy in mind that we are thrilled to be opening the 2023 New Voices Award for entries. The goal of the New Voices Award is to unearth fresh literary talent, yet to be published or represented by a literary agent.
Just as Wilbur shared his unique and original tales of Africa with the wider world, we, too, are looking for voices with a new story to tell. Diverse voices keep adventure writing exciting and evolving, taking us to places we’ve never been and uncovering stories we’ve never heard. We want to champion writers from every walk of life and enable them to share these stories.
Please Note:
- The prize is exclusively for unpublished writers.
- Writers must not be represented by a literary agent, or be under an existing or future contract to any publisher.
- The work submitted must not have been previously self-published, or have been published in full or in part through any publisher or other media.
- To participate, writers must submit their opening three chapters totalling no more than 10,000 words and a full plot outline of no more than 1,000 words detailing where they imagine the story will go.
- Submissions are now closed and the winners will be revealed on 18th October 2023.
- Entries will open towards the end of the year for the 2024 award.
How to Enter
Submissions to the 2023 New Voices Award opened on December 26th 2022 and will close on April 30th 2023, at 23.59pm GMT.
- Read the Terms & Conditions to ensure you qualify for the Award
- Submit your first three chapters (not exceeding 10,000 words) plus a full plot outline detailing where you imagine the story will go (not exceeding 1,000 words), in double-spaced, font size 12
- Do not submit the first three chapters of a manuscript you have already written. This award is designed to support you in developing a fledgling idea into a manuscript, reflecting on aspects such as structure, story arc and character development as you write
- There is an ‘early bird’ entry fee of £20 per submission, which is available until January 31st, 2023, 11.59pm GMT. After this date, the entry fee will be £30 per submission
- They are keen to encourage writers of all backgrounds and, as such, are offering fee waivers for authors who cannot make the financial commitments of entry. Each waiver will be allocated on a case-by-case basis. They do not ask for financial evidence, but instead ask you to explain why you are requesting it. Please email your request to charlotte@wilbur-niso-smithfoundation.org
- Entry closes on April 30th, 2023, 11.59pm GMT
(Unfortunately, they cannot offer feedback to unsuccessful entrants.)