Seventeen writers have been shortlisted for the 2022 Book Edit Writers’ Prize.

The Book Edit Writers’ Prize is a international competition open to unpublished, unagented British and/or UK-based novelists from communities currentlyy underrepresented in publishing. Aimed at those who might not otherwise have access to the industry, the Writers’ Prize was set up to help talented writers get their work in front of an audience of top literary agents. Last year’s winners include Malachi McIntosh who recently sold his debut group biography to Faber and a collection of short stories to Emma Press.

Entrants are invited to submit the first 1000 words of an already completed novel, along with a synopsis and statement about their writing experience. Speaking about the prize, Book Edit Director Emily Pedder said “We’re hugely grateful to everyone who entered the competition this year. The standard of the entries was exceptional and we were awed by the talent on display.” 

The final winners, judged this year by acclaimed author Dr Elizabeth Chakrabarty, will be announced later this week with a special online showcase for industry guests on 23rd November. All the winning entries will also be published in an online anthology accessed via The Book Edit’s website after the showcase.

THE SHORTLISTED WRITERS ARE:

Jamileh and Joss by Sepy Baghaei

Pind by Satinder Chohan

This is Matty and He is Fucked by Serafina Cusack

The Man who saw Time by Emily Dormand Bean

Out the Woods by Roy Duffield

Dead Thin by Atar Hadari

Light Beyond the Mountains by Alka Handa

The Anthropology of Drowning by Delwar Hussain

Aradhana by Ramya Julian

Dwayne and I by Alex.J.Langtree

I, Jack Parker by Martin Milton

Ah Couldney Tell by Catherine Penman

The Enigmas of Amy Wang by Anu Pohani

Kala Polari by Clare Ramsaran

A Long Interval of Nothing by Julie Rea

Iron Harbour by Stephanie Vernier

The Labelled Bones by FQ Yeoh

Congratulations to the shortlisted writers!

Congratulations also to the following authors who were longlisted for the prize:

Nowrujee Ali, William Allnutt, Grayson Anderson, Chris Bridges, Giuseppina Bruni, Nash Colundalur, Elena CroitoruViktoria Dahill, Nicola Fieldsend, Louis Glazzard, Georgia Hazelgrove, Iqbal Hussain, Daphne Le Coeur, Morgan Melhuish, Ash Milan, Marion Moon, Hamish Morjaria, Alex Neve, Dawn Nicholson, Mark O’Brien, Stephanie Perry, Karen Pierce, Priscilla Yeung. 

We have high hopes for all these writers and their future careers!