Eghosa Imasuen, author of Fine Boys, is one of judges for The Dusty Manuscript Contest. Photo credit: Emmanuel S. Oyeleke.

Guaranty Trust Bank has announced a new book prize called The Dusty Manuscript Contest. It will be Judged by Ainehi Edoro, Brittle Paper editor and Marquette University Assistant Professor of Literature; Eghosa Imasuen, author of Fine Boys (2012); Toni Kan, author of the NDDC/Ken Saro Wiwa Prize-winning Nights of a Creaking Bed; and Yejide Kilanko, poet and finalist for the 2017 Brittle Paper Anniversary Award.

Organized as part of GTBank’s YouREAD initiative, in partnership with publishing houses Okadabooks and Farafina, The Dusty Manuscript Contest aims “to give budding writers the opportunity to win publishing deals for their finished, but yet-to-be published, manuscripts.”

Ainehi Edoro, editor of Brittle Paper and Assistant Professor of Literature at Marquette University, is one of the judges for The Dusty Manuscript Contest.

The project comes with considerable incentives.

With the Dusty Manuscript Contest, the [GT]Bank is seeking to address the challenges indigenous writers face getting their books published. The top 3 entries in the contest will be rewarded with publishing contracts with Farafina as well cash rewards. The top 10 entries will get their books e-published by Okadabooks, including book cover design, book editing, and publicity. The top 25 book authors will also get a 2-day boot camp training on writing, marketing and branding.

Commenting on the new prize, GTBank Managing Director Segun Agbaje, said:

“At GTBank we see art as not just a medium for creative expression but also as a means of livelihood, and by organizing the Dusty Manuscript Contest we are helping budding writers make a living off their works. By addressing the major barrier that our indigenous writers face in sharing their stories with the world, we hope to inspire and develop the next generation of award-winning and globally renowned authors.”

To submit your manuscript, please visit HERE.