We are thrilled to announce that the JKP Writing Prize is back for 2025! The prize is part of Hachette UK’s Future Bookshelf programme, which supports aspiring writers from underrepresented backgrounds.
This year, we are focusing on the theme: Everyday Disability and Chronic Illness: Stories of Joy, Resistance, and Anti-Ableism
In the UK, nearly 1 in 4 adults live with a disability, yet the voices of disabled and chronically ill individuals remain vastly underrepresented across many sectors, including the publishing industry. At JKP, we believe that championing new voices from these communities is essential, and this prize is part of our commitment to amplify the stories of disabled and chronically ill people, celebrate their lived experiences, and resist the ableism that too often goes unchallenged.
This year’s prize will be open to submissions that showcase:
Stories of joy and resilience in the face of daily challenges
Narratives of resistance, activism, and fighting against ableism in all its forms
Personal stories of triumph, solidarity, and empowerment within disabled communities
We want to hear the voices that are too often left out of mainstream conversations. Whether your story is personal, community-based, or reflective of broader societal issues, we encourage you to share it with us. We understand that sharing personal experiences related to disability and chronic illness can be vulnerable, and we approach each submission with the utmost care, sensitivity, and empathy.
What is the JKP Writing Prize?
The JKP Writing Prize was created in 2019 with the goal of amplifying underrepresented voices. This prize offers the chance for new, un-agented writers to have their work considered by a panel of published authors and professional editors. The writers of the winning pieces will be offered the opportunity to enter into a contract with the publisher for their work to be published in an anthology.
What we’re looking for:
Your submission must be original English-language non-fiction piece of writing of no more than 3,000 words
Entries must focus on the theme of everyday disability and chronic illness, resistance, and anti-ableism
Writers must be 18 years of age or older and a resident of the UK
Submissions must not have been previously published, including self-published or online
Who will be judging the JKP Writing Prize?
Shortlisted submissions will be judged by a panel of expert judges, including JKP authors and external disability advocates. Scroll down the page to find out more about each of our judges.This year’s judging panel will include:
Pippa Stacey, JKP author of How to Do Life with a Chronic Illness
Andrew Gurza, JKP author of Notes from a Queer Cripple
Shani Dhanda, multi-award-winning disability activist
Got a story to tell?
The prize will be open for submissions from 12:01am BST on 14th May 2025 and will close at 11.59pm BST on 25th June 2025. You can submit your original piece via Airtable through our partnership with Hachette UK’s Future Bookshelf scheme.
If you have any questions or need further information, please contact writingprize@jkp.com.
CLICK HERE TO ENTER
Click here to read the full terms and conditions.