African Writers Trust is currently open for submissions of manuscripts for professional evaluation under its Manuscript Assessment Program (MAP). The initiative aims to provide African writers based on the continent or the diaspora with an opportunity to have their work read, with detailed feedback from experienced readers and editors. The ultimate goal is to have writers produce quality works that are of publishable standard.

In just its fourth edition, the initiative has yielded considerable results. Two of the manuscripts submitted for MAP were signed by Laxfield Literary Associates, UK, the agency founded by Emma Shercliff, a publishing consultant with over 20 years of experience in the industry. They include Malawi’s Timwa Lipenga for her novel manuscript, Songs from a Cabbage and Zimbabwe’s Farai Mudzingwa for his novel Avenues by Train, forthcoming from Cassava Republic Press in 2023.

The fourth edition comes with a new feature: an online writing workshop. Headlined by Nigerian-German writer, Olumide Popoola, the workshop will “provide an opportunity for writers who submit their manuscripts for assessment, to interact with the assessors and guest speaker to discuss questions on publishing, dealing with editorial feedback, and elements of the writing craft.”

The 2022 assessors are: Indra Wussow, Mildred K.Barya, Emma Shercliff, Jessica A. Kaahwa, Christopher Conte, Carol Beyanga, Madhu Krishnan, Goretti Kyomuhendo and Lynn Taylor. Full biographies can be found here.

To participate in the program, submit an unpublished manuscript written in English language, with an accompanying synopsis of up to 1000 words.

Note that each submission carries a fee of 300 USD.

Deadline: July 31

Go here for more details.