The PEN International/New Voices Award has called for submissions for its 2016 edition. The award is open to young writers unpublished writers aged 18-30 who must be nominated by their local PEN Centre as PEN International cannot receive entries directly from candidates.
The PEN International/New Voices Award encourages new writing in certain countries of its operation, and provides the space and opportunity for young and unpublished writers to promote their work. The award encourages entries from diverse linguistic regions and communities.
The PEN International/New Voices award derived its motivation from the ideas of C. A. Dawson Scott and Herman Ould. Before PEN International was established in 1921, its founder, C. A. Dawson Scott, set up the Tomorrow Club as a space for aspiring writers to network with established authors. In 1928, Herman Ould, the International Secretary, felt strongly that it was important for PEN to maintain focus on helping emerging writers and so established the first ‘Young PEN’ chapter. Thus, the PEN International/New Voices Award builds on these ideas.
The winner of this year’s award will be announced in September during the 82nd PEN Congress in Ourense, Galicia. The deadline for submission is 12pm (GMT) on May 27, 2016.
Further information on submission and others can be sought via the official website: http://www.pen-international.org/
