Absolutely. You keep full global copyright to your work, it's yours, always.

However, if your piece is shortlisted, you grant The Hope Prize a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual licence to publish or share your work in print, online, and across other media.

In plain English: If you're shortlisted, your story will appear in our anthology, and we might also share short excerpts on our website, in the media, or on socials to help promote the prize (and your brilliant writing).

Read the full T&Cs.

Absolutely. You can submit as many pieces as you like. Each one requires a separate entry form and a submission fee.

All entrants must be at least 18 years old by the submission deadline of 31 October 2025.

Yes you can submit a piece you have entered into another literary prize or publication. However, if your piece is accepted elsewhere, please withdraw it via the Submittable platform as soon as possible. And congratulations!

We do not accept submissions that have been previously published with a wide readership, including:

• Work that has appeared in print via a publisher, magazine, or anthology

• Work published by a major media outlet or literary platform

We do accept pieces that have appeared on personal blogs and newsletters but we encourage you to rework it.

This is to ensure the final anthology showcases original, unpublished work and to protect both your copyright and the integrity of the prize.

Not at all! The Hope Prize is open to writers anywhere in the world; as long as you're 18 or older by 31 October 2025, and your story is written in English.

Due to the high volume of entries, we’re unable to provide individual feedback. However, shortlisted writers will receive editorial guidance as part of the publication process.

Please make sure your piece is final before submitting. We’re unable to accept revised versions once your entry has been submitted.

Take your time, polish it up, then hit send.

Shortlisted writers will be notified between March and April 2026. Keep an eye on your inbox and follow us on Instagram @hopeprize for announcements.

Yes, we offer a fee-free submission pathway called The Voices We Need. This program is for writers who are directly affected by:

• War, conflict, or occupation

• Forced migration or statelessness

• Entrenched poverty

• Systemic barriers (including those related to race, class, geography, or identity) that make the entry fee unaffordable
  

Just email us a short request at hello@thehopeprize.com with subject line “Fee Waiver”.

Applications for fee-free places close on 10 October 2025.

Yes! When submitting your story, please include your legal name and — only if you’re using one — your pen name. At the very top of the Submittable form, you’ll see a dedicated field where you can enter your pen name. This ensures we use the correct name if your story is longlisted, shortlisted, or published.