The prize – launched by Madrid’s Desperate Literature bookshop in 2017 – will this year partner with 14 different literary organisations, including writers residencies, bookshops, literary journals, agents, and with the UK’s longest-running editorial consultancy, The Literary Consultancy, to offer a long-form manuscript assessment and consultancy service to the winner of the prize.
In this partnership, the 2023 prize winner will receive a manuscript assessment service of up to 60,000 words through The Literary Consultancy, as well as a one-to-one editorial consultancy session with one of TLC’s editors, to be taken place online via Zoom. The prize’s winner will also receive €1500, a 7-day stay at the Civitella Ranieri artist’s residency in Umbria, Italy, and a consultation with London-based literary agent Charlotte Seymour, of Johnson & Alcock. The winner – along with the rest of the shortlist – will also be published in a limited edition anthology book published by Desperate Literature, have their work put forward for publication to the prize’s eight partner journals, and will be invited to read at events in Madrid (Desperate Literature), London (Burley Fisher Books) and Edinburgh (Typewronger Books) in late 2023.
Two runners-up will receive €750, as well as a consultation meeting with literary agent Charlotte Seymour. Additionally, one other shortlisted writer will be offered a spot at the Tbilisi International Festival of Literature, along with a 7-day residency at the Writers’ House of Georgia. A travel stipend of €400 will be provided.
Our judging panel has changed and this year we are working with Ottessa Moshfegh, Mariana Enríquez, and Tiffany Tsao.
ENTRY FEE:
€20 for the first entry
€10 for every further entry
(max. of five entries per person)
SPONSORED ENTRIES:
In light of the ongoing financial crises pretty much worldwide, we have doubled the number sponsored entries in 2023:
- 40 spaces available for full-fee sponsorship through Desperate Literature
- 60 spaces available for half-fee sponsorship through Desperate Literature
Deadline for application for a sponsored place: April 1st 2023
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. A further package of sponsored entries have been offered to the following organisations: Cipher Press (10), The Word (5), Spread the Word (10), The Writers’ House of Georgia (3).
For details of how these places are funded and how to apply, please see our eligibility & conditions page.
