Sampad launches ‘Journeys’, an international writing competition. It is an opportunity for aspiring writers from or connected to the South Asian diaspora around the world to have their work published in a book.
This competition will bring together writers of all ages and backgrounds from cities, towns, schools and groups from across the world. There are two categories: one for writers aged 8 to 15; one for writers aged 16 and over. At the end of the competition the winning entries will be selected by a panel of judges and published …

The Bridport Prize is considered to be one of the most prestigious literary competitions. It is pays a generous £5000 to the winner. Its open to all, and the entry fee is £7. Enough said.
For more details visit the website at http://www.bridportprize.org.uk/

The old battered suitcase was tucked way under the bed, as I dragged
it out the dust tickled my nostrils. The latches were rusted and stiff
but my patience paid off when they suddenly sprang open to reveal
treasures I had long forgotten about. I picked up the brightly
coloured parcels that were wrapped in pieces of torn sari, already a
tusk poked through the bright greens and reds. As I unwrapped the
treasure, childhood memories came flooding back of playing with these
beautifully carved wooden animals?..?
Does this sound familiar? Are you Asian and of East African …

The BBC National Short Story Award has launched (March 26). The award is the world’s largest for a single short story, with the winning author receiving £15,000. The runner up receives £3,000 and three further authors £500 each.
This year’s panel of judges are: singer-songwriter Will Young, broadcaster and journalist Tom Sutcliffe (chair), author Dame Margaret Drabble, Orange Prize winner Helen Dunmore and BBC Radio 4’s Editor Di Speirs.
The shortlist will be announced on Friday 27 November with the five stories broadcast on BBC Radio 4 each weekday before the …

Sala Choudhury and Gurpal Stickland have triumphed in The Asian Writing New Writing Competition. Sala Choudhury’s entry The Critic was chosen as the overall winner in the competition. Playing on the Mountain by Gurpal Stickland was chosen as the winner in the Poetry Category. Both writers win a £50 Waterstones Vouchers. The competition attracted a high number of quality entries from published and unpublished writers from around the world. Farhana Shaikh, Editor said: “It is a fantastic achievement for both writers. Gurpal Stickland’s entry into the competiton immediately stuck out …

I am not an intelligent man, nor handsome, sensible or even pragmatic. I’ve never been popular or well known; often reminding people of my name and what I do as they easily forget who I am. Finding me in a myriad of faces is virtually impossible and trying to distinguish my age and ethnic origin, at my age, is tiring. And while some of these issues might make one feel insecure or self conscious, it makes me rather comfortable to know my actions are neglected, or overlooked, and thus never …

Kamila Shamsie’s fifth novel, Burnt Shadows has been shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction 2009.
Now in its fourteenth year, the Orange Prize celebrates excellence, originality and accessibilty in women’s writing from across the world.
British debut novelist, Samantha Harvey also made the shortlist for her novel, The Wilderness. Deirdre Madden, Ellen Feldman, Samantha Hunt and Marilynne Robinson make up the rest of the list.
The winner will be presented with a cheque for £30,000 and a limited edition statue known as Bessie, created by artist Grizel Niven at an awards ceremony …

1) Have you always been comfortable with the idea that you were a writer? If not when did you accept yourself to be one?
I started writing poems when I was six and my first publications were in school magazines from the age of eight and then in my teens I had humorous articles published in local newspapers. So I was comfortable with writing as being an aspect of my personality. However, I had a long period of not writing for publication. It just turned out that way, between the demands of …

The British Council presented the largest ever festival of Indian writers overseas at the London Book Fair this week (20-22 April). Over 45 Indian writers representing 15 major Indian languages participated in literary events in London and at venues across the UK. Vikram Seth, award winning writer of ‘A Suitable Boy’ featured as Author of The Day on April 21. Nobel Prize winning writer and economist, Amartya Sen was interviewed by David Miliband and gave a keynote speech India in the Modern World. The events offered an insight into the …