We Want to Hear From You
The Uplift Voices Fiction Book Award 2025
For Historically Marginalized Voices
Jaded Ibis Press is offering this award for a fiction book written in English by a US-based writer who identifies as a historically marginalized voice. This is more than a literary contest; itโs an opportunity have your book lovingly edited, designed, produced as both an ebook and print edition, marketed, and submitted to eligible literary awards and prizes. Jaded Ibis Press will open for submissions to the Uplift Voices Award from March 1 to April 15, 2025. The grand prize will be $1500 and a competitive publishing contract, but all submissions will be considered for publication. Join us in amplifying voices that need to be heard, and submit your manuscript for a shot at making a powerful impact. Your story matters, so let it be uplifted!
Xochitl Gonzalezย is theย New York Timesย bestselling author ofย Anita de Monte Laughs Last,ย a Reese’s Book Club Pick longlisted for the Aspen Words Literary Prize, and the award-winningย Olga Dies Dreaming,ย named a Best of 2022 byย The New York Times, TIME,ย Kirkus,ย Washington Post, andย NPR. Gonzalez isย a staff writerย forย The Atlanticย and was recognized as a 2023 Pulitzer Prize finalist in Commentary. A native Brooklynite and proud public school graduate, Gonzalez holds a BA from Brown University and an MFA from the Iowa Writersโ Workshop.
The 2025 Literary Awards Program will run from March 1 to April 15, 2025. We publish in English, and the contest is open to writers from anywhere in the United States.
The grand prize will be $1500 along with a competitive publishing contract. All submissions will be considered for publication.ย
There is a $20 reading fee. ย
We are seekingย fiction manuscripts (novel, novel in stories, short story collection).ย
Simultaneous submissions are accepted. Only previously unpublished work will be eligible. Individual essays or excerpts may have been published in journals or outlets so long as their copyrights do not interfere with publication.ย If your manuscript is accepted for publication during the contest, please notify us immediately. We are unable to refund the reading fee if you withdraw your entry.
All entries must be submitted electronically via Submittable.ย Full guidelines will be available on our Submittable Page after January 1st.ย
We are offering an optional โpay it forwardโ program on the entry form. 100% of these funds will be used for authors who demonstrate that they cannot afford the entry fee.
