Oxford/42 New Writing Prize 2025 (£1,500 prize)

42 in conjunction with The Faculty of English at the University of Oxford are delighted to announce the launch of a multi-disciplinary storytelling competition. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.

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About Oxford/42 New Writing Prize

Opportunity Details

Are you an aspiring novelist, playwright or screenwriter? They would love to hear from you. They are looking for talented new voices in fiction and welcome experimental writing as well as work that would appeal to a broad audience, whether on the printed page, the stage, radio, television or the big screen.

  • Sponsor Organisation: 42

Benefits of Oxford/42 New Writing Prize

  • The winner will receive £1,500 along with professional representation by 42.

Oxford/42 New Writing Prize Requirements

  • Open to anyone aged 18 or over;
  • Be an aspiring novelist, playwright or screenwriter;
  • Be living, working or studying in the UK at the closing date for submissions.

Application Date and Process

To enter the competition, you need to submit a synopsis (up to 300 words) and an elevator pitch of no more than two sentences for a work of fiction, along with one of the following (in Word format):

  • Novel - the first 10,000 to 15,000 words
  • Stage or radio play - a complete script of between 30 and 90 pages
  • Screenplays - a script of between 30 and 60 pages for episode one of a TV show or a complete feature-length film script of 90 pages.

Email them to: [email protected]

See more detailed Terms and Conditions and Frequently Asked Questions here.

Application Deadline

30 April, 2025

Scholarship Application Portal

View details of Oxford/42 New Writing Prize

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