Montegrappa Writing Prize Is Now Open

The Montegrappa Writing Prize has now opened for 2019, the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature’s prestigious competition to discover unpublished novelists. Although a publishing deal isn’t guaranteed, the competition has a proven track record in finding new writing talent, producing eight published authors in the last five years.

Novelists that have never been published are eligible to enter, providing that they are 21 years or older and resident in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman or Saudi Arabia.  Entries can be on any theme, but must be in English and include a 400-word synopsis of the book and the first 2,000 words of the almost completed manuscript. The closing date for submissions is 18^th January 2019

Workshop

This year entrants have the chance to hone their skills and get tips on how to get their work noticed at a workshop led by the Competition’s first winner, Annabel Kantaria, and Jessica Jarlvi, one of the 2016 winners. Both won publishing deals following their competition success. It will take place at the World Trade Club, Dubai on 17 November, from 10:00 to 12:30 and costs AED200. To book a place, head to https://www.elfdubai.org/en/montegrappa-writing-prize-workshop.

‘A number of past winners have gone on to earn multi-book deals and become published authors, so this competition provides aspiring writers from our region with a real chance to get their work noticed and published,’ said festival director, Ahlam Bolooki. ‘It’s an opportunity not to be missed by anyone who thinks they’ve written the next best-seller.’

Charles Nahhas, Montegrappa’s Middle East distributor said: ‘We are proud to have been instrumental in launching the careers of the Montegrappa Writing Prize authors. As Italy’s oldest manufacturer of hand-crafted writing instruments, there is no better way for us to celebrate the creative writing process than by helping new authors  hone their craft and providing them with an opportunity to have their talent spotted.’

All entries will be judged by international literary agent Luigi Bonomi, founder of Luigi Bonomi Associates (LBA) and literary agent for several previous Festival authors, including Rachel Hamilton and Lucy Strange, who were both discovered as a result of entering the competition.

The winner of the Prize wins the chance to discuss their manuscript with Luigi Bonomi. The winner will also receive a two-night stay at a five-star hotel in Dubai and a Montegrappa Limited Edition pen.

The winner will be announced at The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2019 (1-9 March).

To enter the Montegrappa Writing Prize, click here.

More information about the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature can be found online. Fans can keep up to date with #DubaiLitFest action on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube and year-round news of #ELFDubai on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.