Catalyst Press’ imprint for African writers and illustrators or for African-based books, offers primarily traditional publishing contracts and publishes approximately 6 to 8 titles a year. You or your agent can submit during their annual reading period in July & August.
This July, the Jacana Literary Foundation is bringing you a masterclass in on short stories with lecturer, playwright, adjudicator and public figure, Siphiwo Mahala.
The AWP Writer to Writer Mentorship Program matches emerging writers with established authors for a three-month series of modules on topics such as craft, revision, publishing, and the writing life. Mentors volunteer their time and receive a free one-year AWP individual membership as a token of appreciation. Writer to Writer is free of charge to mentees, though they must be AWP members to apply.
In Augustus 2026 sal ’n spesiale someruitgawe van Spectrum gepubliseer word, wat breedweg die tema Kuns, Kultuur en Politiek: Die kruispunt van Kuns, Kultuur en Politiek, sal omvat. Zuid-Afrikahuis nooi skrywers uit om oor hul menings, ervarings of idees oor hierdie onderwerp, met betrekking tot Suid-Afrika, te skryf.
Winchester Poetry Festival is inviting poets to submit their best, unpublished poems to be in with a chance of winning £1000, to read at Winchester Poetry Day and to be published in a printed anthology.
Taalgenoot–RUK EN RYM is oop vir enige klankskeppende kunstenaars wat alternatiewe musiek met Afrikaanse lirieke maak. Sanger-liedjieskrywers, bands, groepe, kletsrymers, elektroniese musikante en enigiemand wat oorspronklike musiek maak en meestal Afrikaans in die lirieke gebruik, mag inskryf.
Are you an African screenwriter with a compelling series idea to tell? The AuthenticA Series Lab is back for its fifth edition, supporting four writers from across Africa and the diaspora to develop original series scripts over six months.
Digtersweek 2026 vind aanlyn plaas van 3 tot 7 Augustus en word weereens gefasiliteer deur Amanda de Lange, voormalige joernalis en nou lewensafrigter en mentor vir ontluikende skrywers. Om die gesprekke so toeganklik moontlik te maak, word dit aanlyn aangebied. Belangstellendes kan dus van enige plek op die aardbol deelneem. Die koste per persoon is R850. Alle gesprekke sal ook ná die tyd aflyn beskikbaar wees vir almal wat die Digtersweek bygewoon het.
Hierdie kompetisie is die ideale geleentheid om die vaardighede te slyp en natuurlik Afrikaans te versterk en te laat groei. Die Poësie-afdeling is oop vir beide leerlinge en onderwysers/skole vanjaar.
Skryf ’n Kinderverhaal is ’n praktiese skryfkursus wat fokus op die belangrikste elemente van kinderverhale. Deelnemers aan hierdie kursus sal leer hoe om ’n kinderboek te beplan en te skryf vir kinders tussen die ouderdom van agt en twaalf.
Daar is nog een aflewering oor in PEN Afrikaans se aanlyn gespreksreeks met plaaslike uitgewers. Op 6 Augustus van 18:00 tot 19:00 sal Miemie du Plessis (Pan Macmillan SA) en Shawna-Leze Meiring (LAPA / Penguin Random House SA) aan die woord wees oor die mark vir kinder- en jeugboeke, hoe ’n goeie manuskripvoorlegging lyk, en die faktore wat hul publikasiebesluite beïnvloed.
Klein Karoo Klassique, Oudtshoorn se winterfees van klassieke musiek, literatuur, kuns, kos en wyn word van Vrydag 7 tot Sondag 9 Augustus vir die 17de keer in die Klein Karoo aangebied.
Writing prompt: What if the only way to save yourself from this reality is to write yourself a new one? The story you choose to tell is everything. There is still only one category for this competition: the Story. That means fiction, nonfiction, or poetry—as long as it tells a story, it fits.
Hidden Compass offers an annual grant of $18 000 to fund a global expedition of the modern age — an age where discovery is about understanding instead of conquering. Their Pathfinders are multimedia storytellers who bring our community behind the scenes in digital dispatches, and share their expedition through magazine features and a short documentary film. Proposals for 2026 are now open!
The 14th kykNET Silwerskerm Festival, taking place from 19 to 22 August in Camps Bay, Cape Town, boasts a diverse programme that reflects the depth and variety of Afrikaans cinema. A total of 22 films will be screened, comprising 17 short films (including five documentary shorts) and four feature films. Established directors and screenwriters show their craft, while emerging filmmakers get the opportunity to enter the world of visual storytelling. Eighteen films compete in the competition, with the winners announced on Saturday 22 August. (One feature film and two short films are not part of the competition.)
In hierdie kursus word deelnemers toegerus met die teoretiese kennis en praktiese vaardighede om ’n eie verhaal te beplan, skryf en ontleed. Die kursus loop van 31 Augustus tot 26 Oktober 2026.
EFIKO is an online literary magazine with a focus on Africa as both place and perspective. It is the definitive publication for bookish folks interested in Africa. They are always seeking poems, short stories, and essays of the highest quality from writers of African origin based anywhere in the world or anyone writing about Africa.
Teatermakers kry vyf minute om hul droomproduksie aan ’n paneel sakeleiers en beleggers te verkoop, met tot R1 miljoen se ontwikkelingsfinansiering beskikbaar. Bekendes soos Saartjie Botha, Cornelia Faasen, Pieter Toerien en Carel Nolte van EasyEquities is op die beoordelaarspaneel. Kom oortuig hulle om in jou produksie te belê.
Nal’ibali is calling on writers to submit new, original children’s stories in indigenous African languages! Stories in indigenous South African languages give more children access to stories in their mother tongue. Top story for each langauge receives R3000 prize. Runner-up story for each language receives R1800 prize. Submissions close on 31st August 2026.
For this volume they are particularly interested in the biography of objects and artefacts, including but not limited to travelogues, as a methodology: what meaning did these artefacts carry in their place of origin, what meanings were assigned to them as they travelled to European collections, and what meanings become available when they are examined critically today? And what becomes apparent when we become attentive to what is not in the archive, but implied or gestured at by the object?
Het Zuid-Afrikahuis is inviting proposals for essayistic contributions of around 2500 to 3000 words.
Residencies at Storyknife in Homer, Alaska, are either for two or four weeks. Resident’s food and lodging is covered during the period of their residency, but travel to and from Homer, Alaska, is the responsibility of the resident. Residents stay in individual cabins & dine at the main house. An on-staff chef is responsible for food preparation.
Die opstelafdeling word aangebied met die kurrikulum (per graad) as riglyn. Deelnemers moet in gedagte hou dat die kreatiewe skryfkompetisie nie 'n lang romankompetisie is nie - die lengte word bepaal deur die graad-spesifieke kurrikulum.
Since 2013, the Working Class Writers Grant has been awarded annually to speculative fiction writers who are working class, blue-collar, financially disadvantaged, or homeless, who have been historically underrepresented in speculative fiction due to financial barriers which make it hard to access the writing world. Such lack of access might include an inability to purchase a computer, books, and tuition, or to attend conventions or workshops. Often, these writers, many of whom work more than one job, have less time to write. The SLF seeks to bring more of these marginalized voices into speculative fiction.
The Jacana Literary Foundation, together with Denis Hirson, is bringing back its highly successful memoir-writing workshops for a fourth time, but in a different way. Across four evenings, one each in September, October, November and December 2026, Denis will share his expertise in a series of engaging 90-minute online workshops. Each workshop session will focus on a different memoir before engaging in discussion with participants.
Skryf ʼn draaiboek vir kortfilm-werkswinkel is ’n 6-ure kontaksessie op 5 September 2026 by Maroela Media se kantore in Pretoria vir enigiemand wat graag die draaiboek wat op hulle rak lê wil gereed kry om voor te lê vir verfilming. Hoewel dit die Skryf ’n draaiboek vir kortfilm-kursus aanvul, sal diegene wat nie aan die kursus deelgeneem het nie steeds by die werkswinkel baat.
Writers submitting 100 word stories for Southam Book Festival’s Flash Fiction competition must include one particular word selected by one of the judges. This years chosen word is HORIZON. They will be looking for works that are original and can be entertaining, thought-provoking, witty, have a relevant message or observation of society.
Die Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees-zine 2026 soek voorleggings vir HI-FI – ’n viering van hoë-trou waarhede, lo-fi-estetika, analoog-nostalgie, statiese witruis en die deep cuts van jou kreatiewe brein. Hulle nooi digters, skrywers, kunstenaars, fotograwe, zine-makers, playlist-kurators en kreatiewe denkers uit om hul werk in te stuur.
Voorstelle word oorweeg om as leesteater by die Teksmark in Kaapstad of Johannesburg aangebied te word. Verteenwoordigers van teaters en feeste, asook vervaardigers en ander moontlike beleggers word na die Teksmark genooi. Die 11de Teksmark word op Donderdag 10 en Vrydag 11 September 2026 by die Baxterteatersentrum in Kaapstad aangebied, met die derde Teksmark Joburg wat Woensdag 21 Oktober by die Universiteit van Johannesburg aangebied word.
Skryf soos ’n joernalis is ’n praktiese joernalistieke kursus vir diegene wat passievol is oor nuus en dit met integriteit wil oordra. Dit is ontwikkel deur Maroela Media en fokus op die fynere detail van joernalistiek, spesifiek in die digitale omgewing.
Wits is proud to announce that applications are now open for the Achmat Dangor Literary Prize 2026, a biennial award supporting young, previously disadvantaged writers to pursue an MA in Creative Writing at Wits University in 2027.
The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry is awarded annually to an African poet who has not yet published a collection of poetry. The winner receives USD $1000 and book publication through the University of Nebraska Press. Submissions are open between 15 September to 1 December.
Mslexia’s competition is for unpublished complete short fiction of up to 300 words. The competition is open to all women, of any nationality, from any country, provided you're writing in English (or associated dialects). This includes under-18s.
Mslexia’s competition is for unpublished complete short fiction of up to 3000 words. The competition is open to all women, of any nationality, from any country, provided you're writing in English (or associated dialects). This includes under-18s.
Mslexia’s competition is open to unpublished fiction novels of at least 50 000 words in any genre for adult and/or young adult readers. The competition is open to all women, of any nationality, from any country, provided you're writing in English (or associated dialects).
Die Skryf ’n gedig-kursus word oor ses weke op Skryfnet se aanlyn leerplatform aangebied en enigeen wat met woorde wil woeker, is welkom om in te skryf. Benewens twee aanlyn sessies, kry deelnemers ook elke week toegang tot ’n nuwe tema se leermateriaal, asook individuele terugvoer van die fasiliteerder op praktiese oefeninge.
The Anthology Flash Fiction Competition is open to original and previously unpublished flash fiction pieces on any theme or genre in the English language by writers of any nationality, living anywhere in the world.
The Writers' College Short Story Competition is designed to support beginner writers aged 16 and up from any country. They accept entries from writers who have never been published or who have been published fewer than four times in any genre, in any publication. Entrants can submit one story written in English of a maximum 2000 words on the theme, “The end of the line”. The free early bird entry ends on the 31st of May 2026. After 31 May, an £ 8 entry fee applies.
The Nova Short Story Competition is an annual competition for budding writers of science fiction and fantasy short stories. The competition is open for entry from April until 30 September annually. While entries can be either SF or F, the story must be intrinsically South African, with the human or physical environment having a direct influence on the plot, characters or outcome of the story. All entries must be in English prose, and must be between 2000 and 8000 words.
The Moth Nature Writing Prize is an international prize. It aims to encourage and celebrate the art of nature writing and is awarded annually to unpublished pieces of prose or poetry which best combine exceptional literary merit with an exploration of the writers’ relationship with the natural world.
The Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition 2026 is open for entries. Entries can be on any subject, theme or genre.
The Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry is an annual award of USD $1000. Established in 2015 and named for late literary philanthropist and APBF friend Glenna Luschei, this pan-African poetry prize is the only one of its kind in the world and aims to honor and promote African poetry written in English or in translation and to recognize a significant book published each year by an African poet. Each year, a significant African writer judges the contest. Open annually from May to October to submissions from authors and publishers. Winner will be announced in the following year.
The Evaristo Prize for African Poetry is an annual prize of USD $1500 awarded to ten poems written by an African poet.
Met 444 items op een van die grootste kunstefeeste in Afrika, is die oorvloed van produksies ’n waardevolle noodsaaklikheid in ’n kunstelandskap wat onder groot druk verkeer. Daar is klassieke en kontemporêre klanke wat die opelug, sale en die gemoed gaan vul, dans wat almal se taal praat, toneel met ’n lag en ’n traan, leefstyl, kuns en veilings, gesprekke, ’n skrywersprogram, iets vir die jongspan en fliekvlooie, asook die opvoedkundige Woorde Open Wêrelde (WOW)-fees.
The writer and literary translator’s residence is open from May to October and is able to host a maximum of six writers per session. To be eligible writers and literary translators must be published (min. one book - self published not accepted), playwrights and scriptwriters must be published or produced.
Kom kuier met ’n uitgewer is ’n aanlyn seminaar met kenners uit die uitgewersbedryf. Dit bied waardevolle insig vir skrywers wat wonder wat die volgende stap met hul manuskrip is. Gesels saam met twee ervare uitgewers in ’n gesprek gefasiliteer deur nog ’n kenner uit die bedryf, en kry antwoorde op jou vrae.
Have you started, or completed, a novel with strong, credible characters and a page turning plot? Have you honed the first chapters? Can you put together a compelling synopsis? Yes? Then why not enter our Novel Opening competition? We welcome published, self-published and unpublished novelists. The only stipulation is that the entry must be unpublished.
Instant Noodles is looking for flash prose (up to 500 words) fiction and nonfiction, as well as poetry, drama, visual art, and multi-media submissions. No theme - For their last issue of the year, you can choose any theme you want. Try writing a story about yourself, something you observed, or something entirely imaginary. Create a video, a picture, even combine two mediums.
This fund’s main objective is to promote Afrikaans literature internationally by generating more translations and translated publications of noteworthy Afrikaans works. Applications for funding will be considered twice a year. The two deadlines for applications are 15 May and 15 November of each calendar year.
Emerging writers are invited to apply in one of three categories: novels, short stories, or poetry. Upon completion of this intensive development programme, the writer is assisted in submitting their manuscript for publication to an appropriate publisher.
Klyntji publiseer soms versamelings van gedigte, maar nie kortverhale nie, aktuele essays wel. Onderhoude, verkenningstukke of features, korter nuusstories en resensies word dikwels gepubliseer. Klyntji poog om by te dra tot die dokumentering van kultuur, ook om argiefmateriaal en akademiese navorsing op te delf vir groter toeganklikheid en breër verwysing.