Opportunities for writers and poets for May 2025.

In our continuing series, we share opportunities for those who wish to submit work in May 2025, be it poetry, prose, or other related arts. These callouts are divided into education (MFAs, Fellowships, residencies), opportunity hubs, journals, and prizes. Please do us a favour and mention to whoever you applied to that you got the opportunity from this page, as it greatly helps us. If you have any callouts, please share in the comments.

Education (MFAs, Fellowships, residencies).

• Krodua Publishing Agency Writing Residency – Deadline: May 31
• Ronald Duncan Stipends for Writing – Deadline: June 15
• Simon & Schuster UK New Chapter Prize for Authors of Colour – Deadline: July 31

Opportunity hubs

• Chilli Hub
• DSAC Publishing Hub – Deadline: June 13
• Pro Helvetia Johannesburg – Residencies
• The Jakes Gerwel Foundation – Residencies
• The Hive: Opportunities for South African Writers
• Studio Styles
• Timi Sanni
• That Book Chikka

Literary magazines/journals/anthologies/manuscripts

• Agbowo (Unthemed Issue) – Deadline: May 31
• The Shallow Tales Review – Deadline: May 31
• Planet Black Joy – Deadline: June 15 – July 31
• Sauúti Terrors: The Dark Side anthology – Deadline: July 1
• Republic Journal – Deadline: Not indicated.
• Lolwe – Deadline: All year round
• Nenta Literary Journal (only Ghanaian writers) – Deadline: All year round
• Alkebulan Art – Deadline: All year round
• The Hooghly Review – Deadline: All year round
• Fahmidan Journal – Deadline: All year round
• Split The Lip – Deadline: Not indicated.
• WILDNESS. a literary journal – Deadline: Not indicated.
• Wensum – Deadline: Not indicated.
• Afro Literary Magazine – Deadline: Not indicated
• Ojuju Magazine – Deadline: Not indicated
• The Weganda Review – Deadline: Not indicated
• Apex Magazine – Deadline: Not indicated
• Brittle Paper – Deadline: Not indicated
• Gone Lawn – Deadline:
• The Dodge – Deadline: Not indicated
• Decolonial Passage – Deadline: Not indicated
• Efiko Magazine – Deadline: Not indicated.
• RIC Journal – Deadline: Not indicated.
• The Lagos Review Essay Series – Deadline: Not indicated
• Afapinen – Deadline: Not indicated
• TriQuarterly – Deadline: Not indicated
• Alien Magazine – Deadline: Not indicated

Publishers

• Parresia Publishers – Deadline: June 30
• Love Africa Press – Deadline:  Not indicated
• Driftwood Press – Deadline: Not indicated

Prizes and competitions

• African Speculations Fiction Society Nommo Awards 2025 – Deadline: May 5
• Ma Kẹkẹ Short Story Contest X The Ama Ata Aidoo Award – Deadline: May 5
• Cave Canem Prize 2026 – Deadline: May 9
• Prémio Literário Mia Couto – Deadline: May 12
• 4thWrite Short Story Prize (for UK Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic writers) – Deadline: June 8
• Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year Award – Deadline: June 30
• Narratives Against Poverty in Africa Writing Literary Prize 2025 – Deadline: June 30
• Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize 2025 – Deadline: June 30
• Prix Ibn Khaldoun – Léopold Sédar Senghor – Deadline: June 30
• The Novelry’s The Next Big Story – Deadline: July 31

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