The 2025 Mo Siewcharran Prize for BAME Writers / Apply Now (Award: £2,500)

The 2025 Mo Siewcharran Prize for BAME writers will focus on amplifying underrepresented voices in UK publishing. Currently in its sixth year, the prize ventures into non-fiction, inviting unpublished writers from Black, Asian, mixed heritage, and minority ethnic backgrounds to submit proposals under the theme “Reclaiming History.” The prize, which was established in 2019 under The Future Bookshelf, honors Mo Siewcharran, the late Director of Marketing and Communications at Nielsen BookData. The award aims to identify and nurture talents in underrepresented backgrounds. This year’s competition is hosted by Trapeze, an imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Limited.

Theme of the 2025 Mo Siewcharran Prize for BAME Writers

The 2025 theme is ‘Reclaiming History.’ Under this theme, the prize organizers are seeking non-fiction proposals that explore historical events through uncommon angles. Submissions must be targeted towards adult readers and can be epistolaries, memoirs, personal narratives, folklores, legends, or polemic writing. Submitted works should be in line with works like When We Ruled by Paula Akpan, Shoulder to Shoulder by Jake Hall, and Empireland by Sathnam Sanghera.

 

Submission Guidelines for the 2025 Mo Siewcharran Prize for BAME Writers

Entrants might be 

• Academics or students pursuing MA, MPhil, MFA, or PhD research.
• Writers delving into cultural or ancestral tales.
• Journalists unpacking recent historical events.
• Authors exploring mythical or familial stories.

 

However, they MUST be:

• Unagented and previously unpublished writers.
• Aged 18 or over.
• UK residents.
• From Black, Asian, mixed heritage, or minority ethnic backgrounds.

Submissions from self-published authors are accepted, provided they are willing to take down previously published works from all retailing platforms.

Timeline for the 2025 Mo Siewcharran Prize for BAME Writers

• Submissions open: 1st April 2025.
• Deadline: 16th June 2025 (by 11:59 pm BST).
• Long-list announcement: 26th June 2025.
• Shortlist announcement: 4th September 2025.
• Winner announcement: September 2025.

 

Proposal Requirements for the 2025 Mo Siewcharran Prize for BAME Writers

 To enter for this contest, you must submit the following:

• A non-fiction proposal of up to 10,000 words containing:
• An introduction outlining the book’s argument and purpose.
• A chapter breakdown detailing the structure.
• Sample writing from one or more chapters.

The 2025 judging panel is a sextet of bigwigs from the literary and academic worlds, including Paula Akpan, Author of When We Ruled, Selina Brown, CEO and founder of the Black British Book Festival, and Katie Ogunṣakin, Editorial Director at Trapeze Books. Submitted stories would be judged based on storytelling flair, historical relevance, interpretation, and the uniqueness of perspective.

 

Tips for Writing a Winning Proposal for the 2025 Mo Siewcharran Prize for BAME Writers

For a proposal like this, we will not dwell on clichés and over-flogged advice like ‘edit your work thoroughly’ or ‘send your best work.’ We believe you should know this. However, we will address the tips many people overlook when writing nonfiction.

 

First Impressions Matter…

…so start with a compelling hook. Grab attention with a bold statement, striking statistic, or a unique personal connection to the topic. Most people fall into the trap of thinking nonfiction should be boring because it focuses on real life. However, that is untrue. Creative nonfiction incorporates all storytelling elements and still aims to hold the reader spellbound. So start strong. Hook the reader from the problem statement and send in the chapter with a memorable first line and an unforgettable end.

 

Answer the Whys and the Whats

• Why this book and why now?
• What is your book about in one sentence?
• Why you? What makes you best positioned to write this book?
• What is the big idea or central argument of the book?
  Who is the target reader, and what problem does your book solve (or what knowledge does it offer)?

Use paragraphs to answer each question while still maintaining the overall flow of the proposal. Show the judging panel the worth of your idea and the depth of work you have invested in creating the proposal/book. Demonstrate how your book will ‘reclaim history.’ An easy way to do this is by using uncommon and unseen narrators (e.g., inanimate objects, children, etc.) Establish yourself as an authority in the field. Publishing is a game of profit. So they want to see proof of concept. This is not a time to express faux humility. Be exhaustive about your relevant experience, academic background, publication history (short stories, articles, etc), lived experience, media recognition, social media reach, etc. Although you want to prove your expertise in the field, do not use jargon and complicated language. Remember, if you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.

Craft a Clear Chapter Breakdown

The chapter breakdown shows preparedness and proves you will finish the story if selected. However, it is essential to note that this summary is not a life sentence. The story can evolve and change as you start writing. This part of your proposal should include:

Possible titles for the book: Go for titles that are catchy/marketable and still reflect the team of the book. A good example of a catchy but relevant title is Chinua Achebe’s There Was a Country.

Titled Chapters: This helps to give the reader an inkling of what each chapter will address, even before they read the chapter summary. Like the book title, the chapter titles should be catchy, witty, and memorable.

Chapter Summaries: Write a two to three-paragraph overview of what each chapter will cover. This is not a blurb, so you can include spoilers and the whole nine yards. Although this is a summary of the chapters, treat it like the actual book and incorporate all the elements of storytelling.

 

What Will Winners of the 2025 Mo Siewcharran Prize Win? 

Winner:

• £2,500 prize money.
• A one-hour online editorial session with a Trapeze editor.
• An introductory meeting with a literary agent.
• A hamper of Trapeze books.
• Consideration for publication with a competitive advance against royalties.

First Runner-Up:

• £1,500 prize money.
• A one-hour online editorial session with a Trapeze editor.
• A hamper of Trapeze books.

Second Runner-Up:

• £750 prize money.
• A hamper of Trapeze books.

Long-listed authors will receive a travel expense stipend of up to £100 to attend the prize ceremony in London.