Commonwealth Writers (est. 2012) is an initiative by the Commonwealth Foundation to unearth, develop and promote the best new fiction from across the Commonwealth. It's flagship are two literary awards and a website. As one of the Commonwealth Foundation’s culture programmes, Commonwealth Writers works in partnership with international literary organisations, the wider cultural industries and civil society to help writers develop their craft.
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The Commonwealth Book Prize is awarded for best first book. The Commonwealth Book Prize is open to writers who have had their first novel (full length work of fiction) published in the year of entry. Regional winners receive £2,500 and the overall winner receives £10,000. N.B.
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000- 5,000 words). Regional winners receive £1,000 and the overall winner receives £5,000.
Both prizes are open to Commonwealth citizens aged 18 or over.
Commonwealth Writers is part of the Culture programme of the Commonwealth Foundation. The Commonwealth Foundation is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1965, resourced by and reporting to Commonwealth governments, and guided by Commonwealth values and priorities. It aims is to strengthen civil society in the achievement of Commonwealth priorities - democracy and good governance, respect for human rights and gender equality, poverty eradication and sustainable, people-centred development, and to promote arts and culture.