SI Leeds Literary Prize

About the Open Call

The Prize exists to act as a loudspeaker for Black and Asian women’s voices, enabling fresh and original literary voices from a group disproportionately under-represented in mainstream literary culture to reach new audiences. The winner receives a £4,000 prize plus a unique development package, including a free place at an Arvon creative writing course, manuscript assessment from The Literary Consultancy, and support from New Writing North. The prize is open to unpublished fiction by Black and Asian women writers aged 18 or over residing in the UK.

What is Offered

1st Prize of £4,000, professional development scheme including Arvon course, manuscript assessment, and networking/mentoring support.

Requirements

Applicants must be Black or Asian women, aged 18 or over, resident in the UK, submitting an original, complete, and unpublished manuscript.

How to Apply

Submit the full, unpublished manuscript and a 500-word synopsis via the Submittable link provided on the website during the submission window (27 April – 25 May 2026). Entries must be submitted anonymously.