The University of Oxford’s Faculty of English has launched a new storytelling competition, the Oxford/42 New Writing Prize, in partnership with 42, a renowned management and production company. This innovative competition is designed to discover and support fresh talent in the world of storytelling. It invites aspiring novelists, playwrights, and screenwriters to submit their work for consideration. The prize aims to encourage creative and experimental storytelling, with a focus on works that can resonate with a wide audience, making it a truly inclusive and open opportunity for diverse voices.
The competition is open to individuals over the age of 18 who are currently living, working, or studying in the UK or Ireland as of the submission deadline. This means that it is accessible to a wide demographic, including individuals who are early in their careers or still in educational settings. One of the key incentives for the winner is a financial reward of £1500, which will help support the writer’s career development. In addition to the monetary prize, the winner will also be offered professional representation by 42’s Literary Management department, which is a significant opportunity for aspiring writers looking to break into the professional industry.
The competition will be judged by a distinguished panel of experts from various fields, including literature, television, and film. The panel comprises notable figures such as Abby Ajayi, the creator of Riches (ITVX and Amazon) and writer on the Emmy-nominated Inventing Anna (Netflix); Chris Chibnall, the creator of Broadchurch (ITV), showrunner for Doctor Who (BBC), and author of Death at the White Hart (Penguin, 2025); Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, an esteemed author and Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford; and Rona Munro, an award-winning Scottish playwright known for works like The James Plays and Oranges and Sunshine. The judges are looking for original and compelling storytelling across different genres and mediums.
The competition will review a range of submissions, selecting a shortlist of up to six entries by May 30, 2025, with the winner being announced in June. This timeline allows the judges to carefully evaluate the submissions and provide meaningful feedback.
Professor Robert Douglas-Fairhurst expressed his excitement about the competition, noting that while new voices in writing often struggle to be heard, this prize offers a platform for them to gain recognition. He emphasized his enthusiasm to discover new talent and hear fresh perspectives. Eugenie Furniss, a literary agent at 42, also shared her excitement about the collaboration, highlighting the importance of supporting storytellers across different media. She expressed hope that the prize would inspire emerging writers to finally pursue the ideas they have been nurturing.
Aspiring entrants are invited to submit a synopsis (up to 300 words) and a brief elevator pitch (no more than two sentences) for their work. They are also required to submit one of the following: the first 10,000 to 15,000 words of a novel, a complete script of a stage or radio play (between 30 and 90 pages), or a screenplay, either for the first episode of a TV show (between 30 and 60 pages) or a complete feature-length film script (up to 90 pages). This range of submission formats allows for flexibility, encouraging writers to submit work in the format that best represents their storytelling skills.
Overall, the Oxford/42 New Writing Prize presents an exciting opportunity for emerging writers to gain recognition, professional representation, and the chance to have their work heard by an esteemed panel of judges. It serves as a platform for fresh voices in literature and screenwriting, welcoming creative works that push boundaries and engage a broad audience.