August Opportunities for African Writers

This newsletter is published every Wednesday at 5pm WAT.

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Things to note:

• Required documents for registration

  • completed application form (in English or Czech)

  • optional: sample from published work (in English or Czech) or from translation (max. 2 pages)

• Selection criteria

  • cultural interest in the place

  • basic knowledge of English

  • Writers : at least one published literary work (not self-published)

  • Playwrights : two already broadcast or published radio plays or one already produced or published theater play

  • Translators : at least one translated work by a Czech author

  • Willingness to participate in local literary life (author readings, school talks, discussions and activities organized by the organizer of the stay or connected with cultural events in the city)

  • Work on a literary work during the stay

• For more information, see here

Little Engines publishes books and a digital magazine with sporadic issues in print. They are currently open to submissions of book manuscripts, stories, essays, reviews, poetry

Deadline: 8th August 2026 | Pay: Book deal/Unstated amount

Things to note:

• Stories, essays, interviews, reviews: send one, any word count will do.

• Poems, comics: include one to five

• Books: include one chapter of your novel, memoir, or collection, along with a short description

• Send work to avery@littleengines.pub.

Thorn & Bloom Magazine is a quarterly publication dedicated to exploring the transformative power of self-care as a pathway to personal and collective liberation. Issue 07’s theme is Postcards from the Past. It explores the past not as a place to stay, but as a landscape to revisit, re-examine, and reimagine.

“The past is never truly behind us. It lives in the stories we tell, the wounds we carry, the love we still reach for, and the patterns we are still learning to break. Some moments shape us without our permission. Others we choose to carry forward, deliberately and with care.”—T&B

Deadline: 15th August 2026 | Pay: None

Things to note:

• For this issue, we are looking for writing that reckons with the past in all its complexity. We welcome submissions that explore:

  • What we carry — The memories, beliefs, or relationships that have shaped who you are, for better or worse

  • What we unlearn — The lessons, expectations, or patterns you have had to actively release

  • What we reclaim — The parts of your past you have chosen to honour, reframe, or bring forward

  • What we learn — The wisdom you have gained from looking back

  • What we leave behind — The things you have decided no longer serve you

  • This is not about nostalgia. It is about honest reflection, the kind that asks: what is worth keeping, and what is ready to be let go?

• They welcome submissions in any genre and style.

• They only consider original, unpublished work. They do not accept pieces that have appeared anywhere else, including on personal websites, blogs, or social media.

• All written work needs to be 2500 words max.

• You can submit as many pieces as you wish, though only submit one piece at a time. Please note that not all pieces submitted may be selected.

• Submit your work through the form on the right hand side of this page.

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Thanks for reading African Writer Weekly! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Thanks for reading African Writer Weekly! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Thanks for reading African Writer Weekly! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Intrepid Times is a travel magazine looking to publish at least one travel piece about every country. They have been publishing narrative travel writing with heart since 2014. This call for pitches is aimed at experienced travel writers with a couple of clippings to their name. If you are new to travel writing, consider waiting for their next call for submissions in September.

Deadline: 15th August 2026 | Pay: Up to $500

Things to note:

• Please pitch us a true travel story of 1800-2500 words. “This is our only criterion. We do not care about keywords or trending topics. We want the travel story that you feel you need to tell. Please pitch a specific, self-contained story, not an overview or summary of multiple experiences, nor essay”—Intrepid

• Ensure your pitch includes:

  • The location of your story

  • The narrative arc / story structure in brief

  • A brief bio of you including clippings and social media, if relevant

• Before proceeding, please ensure that you have read and agreed with their AI Travel Writing Policy.

• Please use the subject line: Professional pitch [Your story title] and send your pitch to editor@intrepidtimes.com

World History Encyclopedia’s international historical and mythological short story contest is now open for submissions. Stories should be set at least 50 years ago, with historical stories set against the political, social, and cultural climate of the event a participant wants to write about. For mythological stories, writers should make it clear which myth they are writing about, but the time period and place of the original myth can be changed.

Deadline: 22nd August 2026 | Prize: Custom artwork + book + lifetime membership

Things to note:

• Historical fiction:

  • A story set at least fifty years ago, which takes the social, political, or cultural atmosphere of the past into consideration. Alternative history – events that could have happened – is allowed, but no time travel.

  • Stories set in prehistory, before written records, are welcome if they plausibly evoke the lived experience, worldview, or oral traditions of that time.

  • Make sure no part of the story happens more recently than fifty years ago.

• Mythological fiction:

  • A story set in the past, at least fifty years ago for this contest, which clearly draws from a myth, mythic figure, or cultural belief e.g., Circe from Greek Mythology, or Ravana from Southeast Asia, yakkas from Sri Lankan folklore.

  • Stories do not need to be set in the time or place of the original myth.

  • Fantasy elements are welcome, but stories must remain rooted in specific mythological or folkloric traditions.

  • Global myths and oral traditions are encouraged; not all cultures had vast pantheons.

• Excluded Topics

  • Stories that are pure fantasy without being rooted in genuine mythology or traditional beliefs are not accepted.

  • All parts of the story must be set at least fifty years ago. No time travel or stories set in the present day that discuss events or people in the past.

  • No content that is religiously, politically, or otherwise offensive in that it encourages hate or intolerance.

  • Some of our reading team do not enjoy excessive gore, so if it’s gratuitous, you might miss out on being longlisted.

• Only previously unpublished stories are eligible (your own blog or social feed is okay). Entrants must be 18 or older for the main contest.

• Submissions must be in English but can be from anywhere in the world. No creative or academic nonfiction, poetry, or illustrations.

• Each author may submit one story strictly between 1,500 and 2,000 words. Youth entries are strictly between 800–1,000 words. Your title isn’t included in the word count.

• Submissions must be accompanied by a third-person author biography (less than 100 words). An author bio is optional for the youth category.

• Five winners receive custom artwork inspired by their stories, created by our in-house cartographer and graphic designer, a history book of their choice, and a free lifetime World History Encyclopedia membership and World History Insider e-magazine subscription.

• For more guidelines and formatting rules, click here.

• To enter the contest, click here.

Headland is an online journal publishing quality short fiction and creative non-fiction. The journal gives voice to aspiring writers alongside established authors, from Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad.

Deadline: 24th August 2026, 4pm (NZ time) | Pay: $75 (NZ)

Things to note:

• Short fiction and creative nonfiction only (up to 5,000 words). At this time they do not publish poetry, novel excerpts, scholarly essays, reviews or art. They do not include any illustrations in the pieces they publish.

• They ask for first publication rights, after which all rights revert to the author.

• They kindly ask that you acknowledge Headland in any reprints.

• They invite submitting authors to include (in your email) up to 300 words on what Headland journal means to you. (optional)

• Please submit one piece only. Submissions can be made via email to headland.journal@gmail.com.

• They do not accept submissions by post. They do not accept material generated by AI.

• Please format both your document name and the subject header of your email with the genre and the title of your piece, e.g. ‘Nonfiction_The House at Pukawa’.

• Include in your email a very brief writer’s bio.

• For fiction and nonfiction, they ask for pieces up to 5,000 words in length. All work should be previously unpublished; this includes self-publication.

• They want to judge your work on its own merits, so please do not include your name anywhere in the body or file name of your document. Please include in the header of your document:

  • Title

  • Word count

  • Your nationality and country of residence

  • And, if relevant, ‘Unpublished Author’

• Any referencing should be in MLA style; see the Purdue OWL for MLA guidelines.

• Please submit your work as a .doc or .docx file.

The New Voices Fiction Contest is now open for submissions under the theme: A country in motion.

“Ghana, as we know her, is never still. Charley, e dey move! Through her people, her politics, her cities, her villages, her struggles, her joys, her religions, her histories, her languages, her stories, her art, her music, her economies, her seasons…and the list goes on. She moves in the everyday negotiations of survival, of ambition, of becoming, of activism, of traditions, of identity, of belonging, of resistance, of reinvention, of hope. A lot has happened, a lot keeps happening. And because of that, we have stories all around us, everywhere you pass—in our streets, homes, markets, classrooms, churches, taxis, chop bars, trotro stations, kiosks, beaches, every corner you turn.”

You are invited to write this country in motion to life. Interpret the theme as broadly or narrowly as you want; as boldly, intimately, thematically, or stylistically as you choose.

Deadline: 24th August 2026 | Prize: Total of GHS 3000 + book vouchers + anthology publication

Things to note:

• Applicants must:

  • Be Ghanaian by nationality or of Ghanaian heritage.We use Ghanaian broadly and inclusively. You are welcome to submit if you:

    • Are a Ghanaian citizen, whether living in Ghana or abroad.

    • Are of Ghanaian heritage or descent (including mixed heritage).

    • Are not Ghanaian by nationality or heritage but have a genuine, long-term, and lived connection to Ghana—for example, by being born and raised in Ghana or having lived in the country for many years.

  • Be at least 16 years of age at the time of submission.

  • Be an emerging writer. Applicants must not have previously published a full-length novel, novella, or single-author short story collection, whether through traditional publishing or self-publishing. Publication in a multi-author anthology, magazine, journal, newspaper, or literary website does not count as publishing a full-length work and does not affect your eligibility.

  • Submit original work that is entirely their own and created solely by the entrant.

  • Submit only one entry per person.

  • Submit work that has not been previously published in print or online, self-published, or shortlisted for another competition. Simultaneous submissions are permitted; however, if your work is accepted elsewhere during the judging period, you must notify the organisers immediately.

• Stories must:

  • Be original works of fiction. We do not accept previously published work. This includes blogs, self-published platforms, or any publication that retains public access

  • Be between 2,000 and 5,000 words.

  • Be written in English or in a Ghanaian language accompanied by an English translation.

  • Be submitted as a Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) document.

  • Use a readable 12-point font (such as Times New Roman or Arial) with double spacing.

  • Include page numbers.

  • Contain no identifying information within the manuscript to ensure anonymous judging.

• Longlist Announcement: 30th September, 2026

• Submit your work here.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This contest asks you to prove it. This project by Quarter Mile (Jordan and Carter), is inviting 1000-word submissions on the image below.

Deadline: 31st August 2026 | Pay: $1000

Things to note:

• Write 1,000 words that connect to the photo. (see it again here).

• Carefully read the FAQ so you know what “connect to” means.

• You can write anything: sci-fi, romance, nonfiction, poetry, whatever you want.

• Use a common software (like Google Docs, Word, Pages etc.) to count the words. Not every word counter counts the same, but if Word, Pages, or Google Docs says 1,000, you’re good.

• To submit you must sign up to their mailing list, and then send your submission from the same email address you used to sign up.

• Send your submission to hey@quarter--mile.com. (If you have problems typing the email, just click on it or copy it from this email.)

• There are some specific rules for sending:

  • Your subject line must be: 1Picture1000Words Entry

  • Your entry must be the body copy of the email; no attachments, text, PDF, or links

  • The body text of your entry must be 1,000 words. If you decide to write a title (not required), that does not count towards the 1,000 words.

Nyamiri-Bàsakkwacḕ: Stories from Another Home is a collection of stories exploring the lived experiences of Nigerians born in, migrated to, or living in Northern Nigeria who are originally from other regions of the country. Book O’Clock invites submissions from writers whose lives reflect this duality and whose experiences meaningfully inform their creative work. The genres in focus include essays, short stories and poetry.

Deadline: 31st August 2026 | Pay: N20,000 + contributor copy

Things to note:

• Prose (essays and short stories): A maximum of 1000 words.

• Poetry: A maximum of 20 lines.

• Only one submission per writer is allowed.

• Submissions should follow the following formatting: 12-point Times New Roman, double line spacing for essays/short stories, and single line spacing for poetry.

• Entries are to be sent as attached DOCX files to the following email address: submittobookoclock@gmail.com.

• The subject of the submission email should read “Submission: Nyamiri-Bàsakkwacḕ — (insert genre & surname).

• Attach a bio of no more than 100 words that also includes your state of origin and the Northern Nigerian city your work reflects.

• You will get a confirmation email from Book O’Clock within 24 hours of your submission.

• Given the project’s sensitivity and niche focus, the collection is edited by creatives with similar backgrounds. Northern Nigeria-based writer and editor Ifeanyichukwu Eze will serve as editor, with Uchenna Emelife, founder of Book O’clock and the director of the Sokoto Book and Arts Festival, as co-editor.

Pepper Coast Mag — formerly Pepper Coast Lit — is a nonprofit hub dedicated to amplifying bold, innovative voices from Liberia, Africa, and the global African diaspora. In honour of Kofi Awoonor, a Ghanaian poet, the magazine established this prize to promote African literature, support emerging writers. They aim to preserve Awoonor’s legacy by encouraging literary excellence, reflecting African culture and experiences by recognizing outstanding literary works, particularly poetry. This year’s prize will be judged by Loic Ekinga.

Deadline: 1st September 2026. | Prize: $150

Things to note:

• The Prize is open to writers worldwide. Each entrant may submit ONE unpublished poem. Multiple submissions by the same writer are not permitted.

• Please do not submit any poem that has appeared in any form — including chapbooks, anthologies, full-length collections, social media, blogs, newsletters, or literary magazines.

• Submitted poems should not exceed 50 lines. (Epigraphs and the poem’s title are not counted as part of the line total.)

• Submissions must be anonymous. Do not include your name or any biographical information in the manuscript document.

  In the body of your email only, please include:

  • Name

  • Phone number

  • Email address

  • Country of residence

• Submit your poem as a PDF or Word (.doc/.docx) file attachment to: kofiawoonorpoetryprize@gmail.comEmail Subject Line: Kofi Awoonor Poetry Prize 2026

• Submissions that do not adhere to these guidelines — or that are received after the deadline — will be automatically disqualified and not read.

• Close friends, relatives, and recent students of the judge are not eligible to submit.

• There is no entry fee.

• Administrators at Pepper Coast Mag will receive and collate all entries and forward them to the judge. The judge reads all work anonymously.

• The judge’s decision is final.

• The winner will receive $150 USD and publication in Pepper Coast Mag.

• Finalists will be announced in October 2026.

• The winner will be announced in December 2026.

Southern Humanities Review is the literary quarterly housed in the Department of English at Auburn University. Founded in 1967, SHR publishes fiction, poetry, and essays. They offer 100 free submissions in each genre each submission period, on a first come, first served basis.

Timeline: 1st August - 1st November 2026 | Pay: up to $50

Things to note:

• Poetry will be capped at 250 general submissions; fiction will be capped at 300 general submissions.

• No AI or LLM tools may be used in the creation of your work.

• Poetry: Please submit up to three poems at a time.

• Fiction: Please send only one story per submission. Manuscripts should be no longer than 8,000 words, double-spaced.

• Nonfiction: submit all forms of literary essays, and sub-genres of creative nonfiction including memoirs, personal essays, lyric essays, flash, research-based essays, literary journalism, travelogues, and other literary nonfiction. Send only one essay per submission period.

  • The essays that get published in the journal are generally no more than 12,000 words.

• Short Stories (Online publication): SHR features short stories in the online Features section. Please send only one story per submission.

  • Manuscripts should be no longer than 2,000 words and no shorter than 500 words, double-spaced.

• Translations are welcome, if they include PDF scans of the original as well as written permission from the copyright holder (if applicable).

• Wait until you have received a response regarding your submission before submitting more work to SHR.

• Click here to submit.

Click here to submit an opportunity.

If you did not receive a reply to a previous editorial inquiry by 31st January 2026, please send a query to editor.afww@gmail.com.

Cul-de-Sac | Isaac Kilibwa (Kenya)

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If you’d like your already PUBLISHED prose featured in ‘Prose of The Week’ please fill this form.

Darling | Ayiyi Joel (Nigeria)

come out into the blinding rays with all that your
face holds,

only if I wasn’t playacting myself. If I knew about
all the raging

storms the sea of your body keeps bottled away
from the shores.

Though there’s nothing like birdsong at noon at a
countryside…

Read more

If you’d like your already PUBLISHED poetry featured in ‘Poetry of The Week’ please fill this form.

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Kí ayò jé tiyin. (May happiness be yours—Yoruba, Nigeria)