When I was in my early twenties back in 2003, I was lucky enough to be awarded an Eric Gregory Award, which is for the best British poets under 30. The deadline for the Society of Authors Awards is coming up at the end of October and it is surprising how many writers do not know about them. Here’s a summary of what is upcoming.
General
Enabling young writers under 30 to enrich their work through experience of foreign countries
Enabling writers to keep in touch with their colleagues abroad.
Novels
Open to authors with a disability and/or chronic illness, the prize will call for entries of novels which include a disabled or chronically ill character or characters.
For first novels by authors under 35.
It is given annually to an author over the age of 40 for a first novel, published or unpublished.
For a first novel by an author over 60
For a novel focusing on the experience of travel away from home
Fiction
An annual award for a short story.
Poetry
Recognising the achievement and distinction of individual poets (no submissions, nominated by judges).
The Eric Gregory Awards, for a collection by poets under the age of 30, were founded in 1960 by the late Dr Eric Gregory for the encouragement of young poets.
When I received an Eric Gregory Award, the poets chosen for my cohort were Jen Hadfield, Paul Batchelor, Olivia Cole, Sasha Dugdale, and Anna Woodford. It was very important for me as Welsh writers are often a bit overlooked in these kinds of prizes. Other Welsh writers who have won a Gregory include Kandace Siobhan Walker (2021), Tishani Doshi and Kathryn Gray (2001), Owen Sheers (1999), Patrick McGuiness (1998), Deryn Rees-Jones (1993), Paul Henry (1989), Stephen Knight (1987), Christopher Meredith (1984), Philip Gross (1981), Robert Minhinnick (1980), Peter Thabit Jones (1979), Nigel Jenkins (1976), Tony Curtis (1972),and Jeremy Hooker (1969), This seems like a lot, but it’s actually only out 16 of about 350 poets awarded since 1960, which is about 4%. Welsh writers, it is worth applying!
Zoë Brigley 