The Rubery Prize is a prestigious international book award seeking the best books by indie writers, self published authors and books published by independent presses, judged by reputable judges. Creative writing is such a key part of life for those who enjoy writing yet it is increasingly difficult to become traditionally published. Through our reputation of finding quality and outstanding books we aim to bring recognition to the works that win and heighten an author's profile.
It is open to all writers internationally and is awarded to a book published in print or ebook form. Books published by independent presses and self published books are eligible to enter
We accept fiction (all genres), young adult, children's, biographies, non-fiction, self-help, cookery, poetry, photography etc. There are no limits on the type.
If you have written a poem you think would appeal to 7-11-year olds, then why not enter the The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2024? The prize is open to anyone over 16, and the poem can be on any subject.
The judge this year will be Joseph Coelho, who was appointed Children's Laureate in the UK in 2022. He started out as a performance poet and is committed to making the reading and writing of poetry accessible to all. He has said that poetry is often what people turn to in times of need, ‘because we instinctively know, deep down in our core, that poetry transcends.'
The winning poem will feature in the summer 2024 issue of The Caterpillar and in the Irish Times online.
Closing date 31 March 2024
‘The Caterpillar is such a unique and inspired magazine. Winning The Caterpillar Poetry Prize is all shades of wonderful!' Coral Rumble
The BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University (NSSA) has opened for submissions. This is the first year of a renewed three-year partnership with Cambridge University.
Radio and TV presenter Paddy O'Connell will chair this year's BBC NSSA judging panel.
The winning author of the BBC National Short Story Award will receive £15,000, with four further shortlisted authors winning £600 each. The stories are broadcast on Radio 4 and available to listen to on BBC Sounds, and also published in an anthology by Comma Press. Naomi Wood won the 2023 award for Comorbidities, which explored the difficulty of maintaining love and intimacy in a marriage, from her forthcoming debut collection, This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things (Orion, April 2024).
Di Speirs, editor of books at BBC Radio and judge of the BBC National Short Story Award since its launch, said: "As the BBC National Short Story Award enters its nineteenth year, I'm excited and curious to see where we will travel and what this year's entries will reveal; will writers offer wisdom, solace, escape? As a leading commissioner of original short fiction, the BBC has always broadcast stories that capture the universal in the personal and entertain and reward the listener. The BBC NSSA sits right at the heart of this ambition each year, allowing us to discover talent and reflect the most exciting writing currently in the UK. I'm looking forward to a springtime of fine fiction immersion and to bringing our audiences voices new or old, but undoubtedly fresh and compelling, in the early autumn."
The deadline for entries for the BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University is 18 March. The shortlist for the NSSA will be announced on 12 September. The announcement of the winners will be broadcast live from the award ceremony at BBC Broadcasting House on BBC Radio 4's Front Row from 7.15pm on 1 October.
