Submit to the 2024 Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize | Deadline: Mar 1

Submissions are now open for the 2024 Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize. The theme for this year is “Language”, so get read to submit any genre of writing on the chosen theme by the deadline of March 1, 2024.

The Alpine Fellowship is a charitable foundation that supports, commissions and showcases artists, writers, academics and playwrights. It was founded in 2013 by artist Alan Lawson and Jacob Burda. The first place winner of the prize will receive £3,000, while second and third place runners up get £1,000 each.

The prize will be awarded for the best piece of writing on the theme of ‘Language’. Read about the theme here:

Language is mysterious. The right sentence, the right word, a knowing glance can open up entire universes otherwise inaccessible. Silence, the great mode of true language, is so often gold; and yet, silence too can be incredibly painful. Too much of language and we find ourselves overwhelmed, even disenchanted – as is familiar to anyone who’s spent too much time online. The poet Transstromer writes: ‘Tired of all those who come with words, words but no language…’

What is the connection between language and listening? Is there such a thing as speaking authentically without listening to the emergence of language moment by moment?

And what about other languages – What about the language of touch?

What of all the languages we have not yet learnt- the language of horses, of trees, how to talk with our childhood selves, and future aged selves, and of course those that are dead.

Submission Guidelines:

• All genres of writing are permitted, including fiction, non-fiction, and non-academic essays.
• Open to all nationalities.
• Applicants must be aged 18 or above at the time of entry.
• All entries must be written in English.
• Applicants can only enter one of the prizes.
• Limited to one entry per person.
• Submissions must be standalone and cannot be extracted from a larger piece.
• A maximum of 2,500 words per entry.
• Stories must not have been published (not including self-published), or accepted for publication in print or online, or have won or been placed in another competition at any time.
• Submissions will be judged anonymously, so please ensure that your name does not appear anywhere on your work.

Due to the volume of applications, the judge’s decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into following the results. Go here for more information.

The winner and runners-up will be invited to attend the annual symposium and will receive up to £500 travel expenses to help with travel to the event. Meals and accommodation during the symposium dates are also covered.

Deadline: March 1, 2024

Submit here.

Good luck to all applicants!