The Commonwealth Book Prize has been discontinued by the Commonwealth Writers project, in an attempt to give greater focus to its Short Story competition.
“This change in direction allows more emerging writers to surface, be heard and use their work for social change,” Lucy Hannah, programme manager for the Commonwealth Foundation, told Global. “We aim to provide these writers with opportunities that they would not otherwise have.”
Commonwealth Writers has chosen to concentrate on the Short Story Prize as it is more accessible than the Book Prize, with entrants less likely to have independent access to an agent or publisher. The Commonwealth Writers project is a cultural initiative by the Commonwealth Foundation.
