Unpublished writers now have the opportunity to enter for the 2016 edition of the Etisalat Prize for Literature, Flash Fiction Award. Entries opened September 1 and will close October 14, 2016. You can enter for this prize by submitting your captivating stories of not more than 300 words.
In today’s fast paced world where communication is right at our finger tips through the use of smart devices; phones, tablets and the likes, consumers prefer to consume information on-the-go and in bite sized chunks. Etisalat continues its effort to inspire and encourage creativity by creating a category which recognizes unpublished writers. The Flash Fiction Award therefore seeks to marry both of these concepts together thus providing added value to mobile device users across Africa.
Here’s how to enter:
- All entries will be submitted online via the website http://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/apply
- On approval of stories, participants are required to share the links to their stories on social media channels to garner votes when voting begins in November 2016.
The Top 50 stories will be published as an e-book compilation by okadabooks.com and promoted online and via SMS after which a winner and two runners-up will be unveiled by a panel of judges made up of seasoned writers, authors and literary enthusiasts.
Re-emphasizing Etisalat’s commitment to supporting creativity, the Head, Event and Sponsorships, Etisalat Nigeria, Modupe Thani said the platform creates an avenue for budding African writers to have a voice and express their abilities thereby giving them a springboard for recognition.
Modupe Ojuolape Kuti, won the 2015 edition of the award for her short story ‘Gone’. She was rewarded with £1,000 cash prize and an iPhone 6. The two Runners up, Jacqueline Uche Agweh and John Chidi received £500 each and mobile devices for their stories, “Invincible” and “Madness in Degrees” respectively.
________________________________________________________________
Sponsored Content
The moment I saw “vote” I was discouraged. The voting thing will kill true creativity. Any hope for reclusive writers? Very redundant something.
Agree wholeheartedly. Its not about literature in any way. Its yet another lip-service payment to supporting the arts.
Thank you Lucinda! That was exactly the same thing i thought. My friends say i should enter these competitions because i have a good chance, but i’m shy. I can’t imagine the thought of campaigning aggressively on all social media and then not winning. I would be so heartbroken. I’m not saying i want to sit back and let them do all the work, but voting should be done in-house and not based on the whims of strangers on social media. My friend competed last year but didn’t win because she couldn’t garner enough votes. And her story was really good! I know other amazing writers that aren’t very active on social media. How will they do this? Please think about us Etisalat. Please Please Please.
But then who are you writing for if you are not active online? How do you bring attention to your work. Except you’ve got a publisher to do all the promo work for you, any writer without a platform is confined to whining about failure. I think the right attitude would involve taking pains to build a following; get better prepared for the opportunity. Life’s hand-me-downs are petty crumbs.
Anything involving vote does not include creativity but popularity.
When the top 50 stories are picked, the most popular person on social media will win not the best story, it has nothing to do with creativity.
Look at what commonwealth are doing. That is what judges are meant for.
I lost interest at the “voting” part; it’s a popularity contest, and we know how that goes.
When is the deadline please? Co’s I have bin trying to upload a story for days and it keeps saying server not found…….
Voting starts tomorrow if I’m right. How can we generate the voting links for our stories. Somebody answer please
https://prize.etisalat.com.ng/flash-fiction/voteall.php?id=829
Oya go and vote
have the submission for 2017 started