Oxford/42 New Writing Prize
42 are delighted to announce the launch of a multi-disciplinary storytelling competition in conjunction with The Faculty of English at the University of Oxford.
Are you an aspiring novelist, playwright or screenwriter? We would love to hear from you. We are looking for talented new voices in fiction and welcome experimental writing as well as work that would appeal to a broad audience, whether on the printed page, the stage, radio, television or the big screen.
The Oxford/42 New Writing Prize is open to anyone aged 18 or over living, working or studying in the UK at the closing date for submissions. The winner will receive £1500 along with professional representation by 42.
Our expert panel of judges from the worlds of literature, stage and screen includes; Abby Ajayi, creator of “Riches” (ITVX and Amazon) and writer on Emmy nominated “Inventing Anna” (Netflix); Chris Chibnall, creator of “Broadchurch” (ITV), “Doctor Who” Showrunner, and author of DEATH AT THE WHITE HART (Penguin 2025); Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, author of METAMORPHOSIS and Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford; and Rona Munro, award-winning dramatist of “The James Plays” and “Oranges and Sunshine”.
They will select a shortlist of up to six entries by 30 May 2025. The winner will be announced in June.
To enter the competition, you need to submit a synopsis (up to 300 words) and an elevator pitch of no more than two sentences for a work of fiction, along with one of the following (in Word format):
Novel – the first 10,000 to 15,000 words
Stage or radio play – a complete script of between 30 and 90 pages
Screenplays – a script of between 30 and 60 pages for episode one of a TV show or a complete feature-length film script of 90 pages.
We are now accepting entries. Please email them to: Oxfordwritingprize@42mp.com
The closing date is 30 April 2025.
See more detailed Terms and Conditions and Frequently Asked Questions here.
Meet our judges
Abby Ajayi is the creator, writer, and executive producer of her original six-part series Riches, available on Amazon Prime in the US and ITVX in the UK. Her TV credits include the Emmy-nominated Inventing Anna (Netflix/Shondaland), How to Get Away with Murder (ABC/Shondaland) and The First Lady (Showtime). A London native, Abby holds a law degree from Oxford University and was a Fulbright Scholar at the New York Film Academy.
Chris Chibnall is a BAFTA, Royal Television Society, Broadcasting Press Guild and Peabody award-winning screenwriter, executive producer, and playwright whose work has been seen, translated and remade all around the world. He is the recipient of the prestigious FIPA Prix D’Honneur, and honorary doctorates from Edge Hill University and Sheffield Hallam University. His television work includes Broadchurch – remade as Gracepoint in the US and Malaterra in France – The Great Train Robbery, Doctor Who, Torchwood and Life on Mars. His theatre work includes One Last Push, Worst Wedding Ever!, Kiss Me Like You Mean It and Gaffer! His first novel, DEATH AT THE WHITE HEART, will be published by Michael Joseph in the UK and by Pamela Dorman Books in the US in January 2025.
Rona Munro has written extensively for stage, radio, film and television. Most notable recent credits include ‘The James Plays’ a cycle of multi award winning contemporary plays about the history of Scotland, originally produced by the National Theatre of Scotland, The National Theatre UK and Edinburgh International festival and subsequently by Raw Material in association with Capital Theatres. Her television credits include the BAFTA-nominated ‘Bumping the Odds’ and ‘Rehab,’ and her films include Silver Bear winner ‘Ladybird Ladybird’ directed by Ken Loach and ‘Oranges and Sunshine’ directed by Jim Loach. Rona is the only writer so far to have contributed episodes to both the ‘classic’ and contemporary series of ‘Dr Who.’
Robert Douglas-Fairhurst is a Professor of English Literature and a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford. His books include Becoming Dickens (2011), which was awarded the Duff Cooper Prize, The Story of Alice (2015), which was shortlisted for the Costa Prize, The Turning Point (2021) and Metamorphosis: A Life in Pieces (2023). He writes regularly for publications including the Times, Spectator, and Literary Review, while radio and television appearances include Start the Week, In Our Time, The Today Programme, BBC Breakfast, and The Culture Show. He has acted as the historical consultant on BBC productions of Jane Eyre, Emma, Great Expectations and Dickensian, and both of the Enola Holmes films for Netflix. He has judged the Man Booker Prize and the Baillie Gifford Prize, and in 2015 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
