The Caine Prize Rules

Please note that works which do not conform to the criteria will not be considered for the prize.  Please do not waste your own time and postage by sending in material which is unsuitable.  Works not eligible for entry include stories for children, factual writing, plays, biography, works shorter than 3000 words and unpublished work.  If you are not sure whether your work is eligible, please email us for advice.

The Prize is awarded to a short story by an African writer published in English, whether in Africa or elsewhere. (Indicative length, between 3000 and 10,000 words).

“An African writer” is taken to mean someone who was born in Africa, or who is a national of an African country, or whose parents are African, and whose work has reflected African sensibilities.

There is a cash prize of £10,000 for the winning author and a travel award for each of the short-listed candidates (up to five in all).

For practical reasons, unpublished work and work in other languages is not be eligible. Works translated into English from other languages are not be excluded, provided they have been published in translation, and should such a work win, a proportion of the prize would be awarded to the translator.

We are happy to take submissions from internet magazines, but must insist that we receive 6 hard copies of these, as of other submissions.  Also it is important that internet entries be carefully edited: past judges have not viewed with favour entries containing typos and other errors.

The award is made in July each year, the deadline for submissions being 31 January. Works received after that date will be put forward to the next year's prize.  The short-list is selected from work originally published in the 5 years preceding the submissions deadline and not previously considered for a Caine Prize. (Deadline for the prize in 2009 is 31 January 2009; works must have been published between 1 February 2004 and the closing date.)

In general it is unwise to delay the submission of entries until shortly before the deadline: postal and delivery hiccups can easily result in material arriving too late.  It is far better to submit material a few weeks in advance.

NB: There is no application form. Submissions should be made by publishers, in the form of 6 original published copies of the work for consideration.  (If published in a magazine or journal we will accept 1 original copy plus 5 photocopies, but would prefer 6 original copies.)  These should be sent to the address below.  Details of online publication by a recognised internet magazine should be emailed to us, in the form of a letter from the publisher containing details of the url where we may access the story.  Should the story be shortlisted we reserve the right to ask for a further 6 copies of the published work.

Every effort is made to publicise the work of the short-listed authors through the broadcast as well as the printed media.

Winning and short-listed authors will be invited to participate in writers’ workshops in Africa, London and elsewhere as resources permit.

For further information, please contact Nick Elam at The Caine Prize for African Writing, The Caine Prize for African Writing,  The Menier Gallery, Menier Chocolate Factory, 51 Southwark Street, London SE1 1RU

Tel:  +44 (0) 20 7378 6234   Fax:  +44 (0) 20 7378 6235    email:  info@caineprize.com