THE Guyana Prize for Literature is among the most esteemed awards within the realm of the arts in Guyana, and writers who feel their work deserves a chance to be recognised have just shy of two weeks to submit their entries, as the deadline for submissions for the 2016 Award is March 31, 2017.
The Guyana Prize for Literature was established in 1987 by the Government of Guyana, and the award remains the most outstanding literary award of its kind in the Anglophone Caribbean.
The aim of the Award is to promote, encourage and reward the generation of good literature in Guyana in particular and the Caribbean in general.
So far, awards in Fiction, Poetry, Drama, First Book of Fiction and the First Book of Poetry have been made in 1987, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2012.
Winners within various categories of the Award over the years include names such as David Dabydeen, Stanley Greaves, Paloma Mohamed, Rhyaan Shaw, Harold Bascom, Ruel Johnson and Subraj Singh.
Johnson and Singh are known as holding the titles of being the youngest and second youngest winners of the Award in their categories.
The Prize is awarded every two years, and the winners are decided by a jury comprising five prominent writers and critics known for their expertise in literature and the arts.
The books in the Guyana Prize for Literature collection represent an entire historical epoch in our literature since this prize had had much to do with a resurgence of writing by local and overseas Guyanese.
Here’s what you need to know about the 2016 Award:

CATEGORIES
a) Poetry: A collection of poems or one long poem by a single author. Award: US$5,000
b) Fiction: A novel or collection of short stories by a single author. Award: US$5,000
c) Drama: A full-length play. Award: US$ 5,000
d) First book in categories (a) and (b) above. US$3,000 each
There will be one prize awarded in categories (a), (b), and (c), and two prizes in category (d).

ENTRIES
a) In the case of categories (a), (b), and (d), only works submitted by publishers will be accepted. However, for authors resident in Guyana only, unpublished manuscripts may be submitted by the author, provided that such scripts have been clearly typed on one side of paper.
b) Publishers will submit works published between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2016.
c) In the case of drama, works that have either been written first published or first publicly performed between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2016, may be submitted by either publisher or author. A type-script of a play may be accepted provided that such a script has been clearly typed on one side of the paper.
d) Publishers, [or authors in the case of drama or manuscripts], are requested to submit six (6) copies gratis of each title submitted.
e) CLARIFICATION ON MANUSCRIPTS: Revised unpublished manuscripts and manuscripts previously submitted and are now published will be accepted.

SUBMISSIONS
All entries must be accompanied by a separate typed sheet with the following information for each competitor:
a) Entrant’s full name, date and place of birth, citizenship [by birth, marriage, naturalization] or residence qualifications;
b) Current address, telephone number, fax number, e-mail (if any);
c) Title (s) of work (s) submitted;
d) Date and place of publication in the case of Fiction and Poetry entries.
e) In the case of the Poetry and Fiction entries, state whether or not the work is a first published book in the relevant category.
f) A brief biographical sketch and career resume of the author together with a recent photograph.
Entries for this competition must be addressed to:
Al Creighton
Secretary
Management Committee

Enquiries may be directed to Debra Lowe,
Phone: (592)-222-3597 Cell: (592) 625-7488
E-mail: guyanaprizeforliterature@gmail.com
and debral65@yahoo.com
Website:
http://guyanaprizeforliterature.doodlekit.com/