CRWROPPS Post: The Desperate Literature Prize for Short Fiction

Due to the Corvid-19 situation, the temporary closing of our shop in Madrid and the rush to get everything online, we have decided to give a final extension to our 2020 prize deadline. We also get the sense, having heard from a number of writers, that this week's panic hasn't been the best state for writing, so the more time the merrier. Hopefully a new rhythm will begin to establish itself and we can all get back to what we love: writing and reading. Thank you for putting up with the many email.

Stay safe, stay writing

The new deadline is March 29nd (Madrid time: GMT + 1). 

Here's our twitter, Instagram, and Facebook links for good measure.

The full info:

The Desperate Literature Prize for Short Fiction is awarded for original works under 2000 words. 2020's judging panel is a killer combo of ⚡Rachel Cusk, Niven Govinden, Ottessa Moshfegh, and Claire-Louise Bennett ⚡and we've added even more to the prize kitty this year, with more partner journals than before, higher monetary prizes for runners-up, meetings with a UK literary agent for the winner and runners-up, and publication and events across Europe.

Our focus very much remains offering the widest possible reach for our winners and shortlisters. We send our shortlist selection (published as Eleven Stories) to agents in the US and UK and, as proof that the system works, we're delighted to announce that after reading the first place story Charlotte Seymour of Andrew Nurnberg Associates (UK) signed 2019 winner Francesca Reece and has secured her a two book deal, forthcoming with Tinder Press in 2021.

For more information, you can see our main prize page, and below you have all the details in email format, ready to send. 

If you'd like more information, do not hesitate to email.

Best,

DL prize team

SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN FOR THE 2020 DESPERATE LITERATURE SHORT FICTION PRIZE   Awarded for fiction under 2000 words. We're very excited to launch our 2020 prize for short fiction in collaboration with 14 foundations and associations to further our aim of giving winners and shortlisters as much as possible to help further their writing.  JUDGES: Rachel Cusk Niven Govinden Ottessa Moshfegh Claire-Louise Bennett   First Prize: – €1000 – A week's residency at the Civitella Ranieri Foundation Runners-up Prizes: – €500 (two prizes available) – A consultation with a UK Literary Agent from Andrew Nurnberg Associates All Winners: – Will be published in a truly smashing, limited edition book published by ourselves truly and launched at the Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize Salon, Madrid – Publication with one of our partner journals: 3:AM, Helter Skelter, The London Magazine, Open Pen, Prototype, Hotel, Gorse, and The Second Shelf  (women only) – Participation in Desperate Literature Prize Salons (Salons, no less) at Desperate Literature, Madrid; Burley Fisher, London; Typewronger Books, Edinburgh; and The Second Shelf, London (women only) – Participation in the Rizoma Film Festival. One Shortlisted Winner:  – Will be selected for a week's residency at Casa Ana, Andalusia, as part of their Creative Writing Programme.* *before entering, please read our terms and conditions to see how the prize is funded, prize details, entry conditions and your eligibility. READ 2019 WINNER FRANCESCA REECE'S TESTIMONIAL  "The Desperate Literature Prize changed everything for me. It gave me a platform to get my writing out there and to meet so many interesting, talented people. The prizes are just ridiculously good but the whole experience – the events in Madrid, Paris and London, getting published in Eleven Stories, all of it – was unforgettable." Francesca Reece – 2019 Winner We're also very excited to announce that after winning the Desperate Literature Short Prize for Short Fiction, Francesca was signed to Andrew Nurnberg Associates and has a novel forthcoming. CLICK HERE TO READ QUOTES FROM OTHER WINNERS, LITERARY AGENTS, 2019 JUDGES CLAIRE-LOUISE BENNETT AND ELEY WILLIAMS, AND AN INDIE PUBLISHER  MORE INFORMATION Civitella Ranieri  SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 29thd March 2020 Midnight GMT + 1 (Madrid vermouth hour) SHORTLIST SELECTION: 30th April 2020 WINNERS ANNOUNCED: May 15th 2020* *Please note, due to the Corvid-19 pandemic we will be announcing new publishing and events schedules shortly, but we'll be aiming for the close of 2020, early 2021. ENTRY FEE: €20 for the first entry €10 for every further entry (max. of five entries per person) SPONSORED ENTRIES: Starting in 2020, we are happy to announce a sponsored entries scheme for under represented writers or writers suffering from financial hardship. 10 spaces available Deadline for entry: 31st December 2019 Contact: prize@desperateliterature.com Applications will be judged on a case by case basis by a member of the team with the support of Spread the Word UK. Desperate Literature has also extended upto 10 spaces for writers working through Spread The Word. For details of how these places are funded, please see our eligibility & conditions page.  SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: – The Desperate Literature Short Fiction prize is awarded to an original work of fiction under 2000 words – Translations are accepted, but the prize is awarded to the original writer, not the translator – Submissions are anonymous – Stories should be submitted in .pdf format upon payment of the entry fee, without mention of the author or translator name within the document. FOR A FULL LIST OF GUIDELINES, SEE OUR ELIGIBILITY & CONDITIONS PAGE About Desperate Literature: Desperate Literature is a joint project between Craig Walzer, Corey Eastwood, Charlotte Delattre and Terry Craven. Between them they own Atlantis Books in Santorini, Greece, Book Thug Nation and Human Relations in Brooklyn, NY, US.   Desperate Literature strives to be a space where good literature serves as a vehicle for dynamic cultural, linguistic and social exchange between Madrilenos, extranjeros and travelers from around the world. In this spirit we look forward to hosting readings, meetings, gallery shows, lectures, and more. We're open every day 10h30 – 14h30 & 17h – 22h30. We're not on the internet that often, but we check email often enough. Better yet, please stop by the shop and say hi or give us a call at +34 911 88 80 89. We sell books. Real books. Desperate ones. Paper and glue. Our mailing address is: hello@desperateliterature.com

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