Nigerian novelist Abi Daré, author of The Girl With the Louding Voice, is on the judging panel of the inaugural Discoveries Prize for new women writing. The award, which was set up to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, is part of an initiative to bring attention to writing by new female authors based in the UK and Ireland. It is jointly administered by The Women’s Prize Trust, NatWest,  Curtis Brown Literary Agency and Curtis Brown Creative Writing School.

Daré is joined on the panel by Women’s Prize for Fiction founder Kate Mosse (chair), literary agent Lucy Morris, Curtis Brown Creative Managing Director Anna Davis, and Director for Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature Sandeep Mahal.

About the Prize.

  • The prize is open to women writers aged 18 and above writing in English and based in the UK or Ireland.
  • Entrants do not need to have finished a novel but should at least have one in progress.
  • Entrants are required to submit only the first 10,000 words of their manuscript in any genre of adult fiction with a synopsis of up to 1,000 words.

A longlist of sixteen and shortlist of six will be announced by the panel.All longlisted and shortlisted authors will receive due remuneration from Curtis Brown Agency. In addition to a cash prize of £5,000, the winner will be offered representation by Curtis Brown Literary Agency.

Go here to find out more about the prize, including how to apply.