‘Life writing is the most dynamic form of storytelling around just now; it connects with readers who speedily see the universal in the particular, and offers a deep dive into the human psyche, reminding us, as Jamaicans say, that “all a-we is one”. Spread the Word’s Life Writing Prize provides a platform for the very best and daring writing to come through.’ Colin Grant, Judge 2019

Spread the Word is pleased to announce the judges for the 2019 Life Writing Prize, run in association with Goldsmiths Writers’ Centre. The 2019 judges are: author and historian Colin Grant, poet and playwright Inua Ellams and novelist and academic Ros Barber.

Free to enter, the Prize aims to find the best life writing from emerging writers from across the UK. The Prize defines life writing as ‘intended to be true’, reflects someone’s own life journey or experiences and is not fiction. The 2019 Prize will open for submissions on Monday 5 November.

The winner of the 2019 Life Writing Prize will be announced at the Prize ceremony taking place at Goldsmiths, University of London on Thursday 16 May 2019.

The 2018 Prize was won by Danny Brunton for his story New Boy (available to read here – bit.ly/NewBoyBrunton). He says that ‘winning the competition has given me recognition and a massive boost of confidence to continue with my writing project.’

The Prize opens for entry from Monday 5 November 2018 at midday. The closing date for entries is 11.59pm on Friday 1 February 2019.