The Author of Tomorrow Award 2025 | How to Apply
The Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation has opened submissions for the 2025 Author of Tomorrow Award, an international competition that celebrates the next generation of adventure writers. Designed to inspire and elevate young voices, the award is part of the prestigious Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize and offers an exciting opportunity for writers aged 21 and under to showcase their storytelling talent on a global stage.
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Eligibility for the Author of Tomorrow Award
The competition is open to young writers from anywhere in the world who are writing in English. Entrants must submit an original short story that fits within the genre of adventure writing. Participants must enter the category that corresponds to their age on the date of submission:
- Ages 11 and Under:
Up to 500 words | Prize: £100 plus £150 book tokens for their school - Ages 12–15:
1,000–2,000 words | Prize: £250 plus £150 book tokens for their school - Ages 16–21:
1,500–3,000 words | Prize: £1,000
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Submission Requirements for the Author of Tomorrow Award
- Submit in English, in a .doc or .docx format
- Do not include your name or personal details in the manuscript (blind reading process)
- Submit your original work and not something previously published outside your academic institution
- You can enter multiple stories, but make sure to submit them separately
- Include no personally identifiable information in the manuscript
- Submit by 23:59 BST on 30 April 2025
If shortlisted, stories will be digitally published on Worldreader’s BookSmart app, making them freely accessible to readers worldwide. Authors retain all rights to their work. Winners and shortlisted authors will be required to provide a photograph for promotional purposes. Those under 18 must have parental or guardian permission.
Awards and Benefits
This isn’t just a writing competition—it’s a launchpad for young talent:
- Cash prizes for the top story in each age category
- Digital publication on the Worldreader BookSmart app
- Global readership—stories will be available online anywhere there’s internet
- Recognition and exposure via the Foundation’s website and social media
- Showcasing of talent through the Author of Tomorrow Anthology and other promotional opportunities
Shortlisted entries will be announced on 1 July 2025, with the winners revealed in September 2025.
Adventure Awaits
The Author of Tomorrow Award 2025 encourages bold storytelling, fresh perspectives, and thrilling narratives. Whether you’re writing about desert expeditions, space voyages, survival tales, or coming-of-age journeys in unfamiliar lands—this is your chance to be heard.
So sharpen your pencils (or open your laptop), and let your adventure begin.
Submissions open 1 March – 30 April 2025.
For more information, including full terms and submission instructions, visit:
www.wilbur-niso-smithfoundation.org
Dare to write the world’s next great adventure.
