Theme: I Am Because You Are
Organized by Mystery Publishers
Submission Period: 16 September 2024 – 15 December 2024
As part of the Our Stories Redefined series, Mystery Publishers invites African writers, both on the continent and in the diaspora, aged 15 and older, to submit their non-fiction, autobiographical stories for the 2025 edition of Our Stories Redefined Anthology for African Writing, themed ‘I Am Because You Are’. This collection, inspired by the concept of Ubuntu, explores the cycles of support within families, particularly the influence between parents and children. This anthology is an ode to how our upbringing shapes who we are—and who we are not.
THEME: I Am Because You Are
This anthology seeks to reflect on the intricate bonds that connect generations. We’re interested in autobiographical stories that delve into the impact of parenting, the reciprocal influence between generations, and the nuanced ways our childhood defines us. Your submission can be based on real-life experiences, reflecting on what could be or might have been.
VISUAL ARTISTS CALL AND GUIDELINES
In addition to the writing submissions, we are also calling on visual artists—those who create drawings, paintings, and photographs—to submit their work based on the family theme. The submission period for visual art runs from 16 September 2024 to 16 October 2024. The best pieces will be selected for inclusion in the anthology and will also be displayed in an exhibition hosted by Mystery Publishers.
ANTHOLOGY SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Who Can Submit: African writers on the continent and in the diaspora aged 15 and above.
Genre: Non-fiction, autobiographical accounts.
Word Limit: Maximum of 1,500 words.
Format: Submit in .doc or .docx format, using Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced, through email (redefined@mysterypublisherslimited.com ) as follows:
O subject heading: ‘Our Stories Redefined 2025 Non-Fiction Submission by YOUR NAME’;
O the stories as a single Word (.doc, .docx, or .rtf) document;
O save your document as Word document ‘Redefined_Non-Fiction_Story_by_YOUR NAME’ as the file name; and
Language: Submissions should be in English (UK). Works translated into English from any African language may be submitted, but they must be accompanied by their English version. Translations of stories are eligible if submitted by the writer (not the translator) and provided the translator is an African. The translator’s details must be stated in the entry.
Anonymity: Writers who wish to remain anonymous may submit under a pen name of their choice.
Bio: Please include a short bio (maximum 150 words) with your submission, telling us your name (or pen name), where you come from (nationality), and what you do.
Pieces Submitted: The stories/articles should be original and should not have been previously published anywhere in full or in part. Published work is taken to mean published in any electronic or printed, publicly accessible form, e.g. anthology, magazine, newspaper, blogs and websites, including personal blogs/websites.
We do not consider simultaneous submissions, i.e. work that is being considered elsewhere.
WORKSHOPS
Feeling unsure about your writing? This year, we are organizing workshops designed to help you unpack your writing skills and process your childhood experiences. With the guidance of trained therapists and seasoned writers, these sessions aim to help you safely bring your story to life.
Workshop Schedule:
1. Who is speaking in your story?
Date: 20 September 2024 (Virtual)
Target Audience: General audience
Objective: Learn how to create compelling characters and decide on the narrative voice.
2. What are we writing?
Date: 04 October 2024 (Virtual)
Target Audience: For men, fathers, and uncles
Objective: What do we want to teach our children about finances? Led by a business coach.
3. Where are we?
Date: 18 October 18 2024 (Virtual)
Target Audience: For Writers
Objective: Explore how African traditions and generational shifts impact our families.
4. How do we do it all?
Date: 01 November 2024 (Virtual)
Target Audience: For Women, sisters, daughters, aunts
Objective: How have our past experiences shaped how we discipline, feed, dress, or talk to our children?
5. Why do we write?
Date: 15 November 2024 (Virtual)
Target Audience: For General audience
Objective: Unpacking childhood trauma and understanding its influence on our stories.
6. When do we realize our place in the home?
Date: 06 December 2024 (Virtual)
Target Audience: Teens to 24-year-olds
Objective: Who are you, and what do you wish your parents would let you do? What conversations do you wish to have with them?
RIGHTS
- You own, and shall always retain, the copyright of your work; we shall retain the ‘Collective Work/Anthology’ copyright.
- We ask for the first serial rights on any story we publish. This means that the story should not have appeared anywhere else, in either print or online. (This includes publication on your website/blog.)
- On publication, we ask for first print (exclusive) rights for six (6) months from the date of publication and the right to keep the story in print as part of the anthology.
– after the expiry of the first print rights, we ask for continuing, non-exclusive print (publication) rights as part of, and in reprints of, the anthology only. This means that you can publish your story(s) on other platforms, either in print or electronically.
– The author retains all rights not expressly granted to the publisher.
PAYMENT
- THERE IS NO SUBMISSION FEE.
- THERE IS NO PAYMENT for authors.
- Writers within the East African region shall receive a copy of the anthology once published.
- We shall NOT pay authors royalties. Proceeds of the anthology shall be used to award pro-rata creative writing course scholarships to applicants who qualify for Mystery Creative Writing Training Institute writing courses.
TIMELINES
We are working with the following timelines:
– Submissions: 16 September 2024 – 15 December 2024
– Selecting submitted stories and contacting contributors: 16 December 2024 – 30 December 2024
– Shortlisting of selected stories: 31 December 2024
– Editing and proofreading: 01 January 2025 – 31 January 2025.
– Publishing process commences: 01 February 2025
– Publication date: 31 March 2025
– Book Launch: April 2025
