The Green we Left Behind: a creative nonfiction anthology, to be curated by Arts Lounge Literary Magazine in collaboration with the French Embassy in Nigeria, the French Institute in Nigeria and Cookingpot Books calls for entries.
About the Project
The Green We Left Behind is a literary project organized by Arts Lounge Literary Magazine and sponsored by the French Embassy in Nigeria, the French Institute in Nigeria and Cookingpot Books with the aim of creating radical awareness on climate change, emphasizing the magnitude of our climate situation, and inspiring energetic conversations that will force people to act in the favor of our earth.
We feel strongly that delicate stories about the painful souvenirs that come with climate change are not significantly talked about. For instance, it is difficult to find anthologies and stories that focus on Eco Literature in most libraries of the world. We chose creative nonfiction as a way of making the stories authentic, and the language accessible, while retaining the sophistication of poetry. Send us works that upset, that trouble the soul, that prick at the human conscience.
The collection will publish nonfiction stories on climate change from Nigeria, in English. For the e-book edition, the stories will be translated to French, thereby inspiring fundamental conversations about climate change in the two most powerful languages of the world. This venture will be part of the many programs that continue to strengthen the relationship between Nigerian writers and the French Embassy in Nigeria.
The project will culminate into a Literally event, where the prize winners will be announced and awarded, with guests engaging in conversations on the issues of climate change, opening a platform for people to suggest and act on urgent strategies to remedy the situation.
Submission Guidelines
Submission is open to Nigerians, not younger than 16 at the time of entry.
Submit only creative nonfiction stories that reflect the theme of the anthology.
Multiple or simultaneous submissions will not be read, accepted or acknowledged.
Send only previously unpublished creative nonfiction.
All entries must be no less than 1500 words, and no more than 3000 words.
Entries must be double spaced, formatted with times new Roman, and 14 font size.
Entries must be free of grammatical errors.
Submission opens on the 10th of March, 2022, and closes on the 30th of April, 2021.
Any submission outside the submission timeline will be disqualified.
Submit entries as a word attachment, with the subject “THE GREEN WE LEFT BEHIND.” Entries must be accompanied by a cover letter that bears the word count, name of the writer and state of origin. The writer’s name and any other means of identification can only appear on the cover letter and not the entry. Any means of identification on the entry will lead to automatic disqualification.
Submissions should be sent to artsloungenyc@gmail.com
Questions or inquiry should be directed to the same email address.
Prizes
First Prize 200,000 naira
Second Prize 150,000 naira
Third Prize 100,000 naira
Honorary mentions
Prize Rules
The judges’ decisions are final.
A long list will be announced on the 20th of May, while the short list will be released on the 10th of June, 2022.
Winners will be announced at the book launch and literary cocktail, which will be organized by the French Institute in Nigeria, based in Abuja, towards the end of June.
All Long-listed writers must be available for communication via email during the editing and publication stages.
Shortlisted writers should be present at the literary event in Abuja, where winners will be announced.
Outstanding entries which may not be selected as winning entries will be recognized as honorary mentions and given tokens in cash.
The judges reserve the right to withdraw the prize if in their judgment the winner has defaulted or violated any rule.
Winners must be available to acknowledge and receive the prize at the French Institute in Nigeria, Abuja.
Judges
Unoma Azuah (Chair)
Juliette Refle
Adaeze M. Nwadike
Amuche Nnabueze
Sule Emmanuel Egya
Patience