Sprinng is closed for submissions for 2024.
We accept submissions in all genres from African writers. You may submit up to 2 pieces (of the same or different genres) for this period only. You may submit Poetry, Fiction (Flash fiction, Short Stories, etc.), or Creative Nonfiction (Essays, Book Reviews, etc.). Writers have the option of submitting on any theme(s) of their choice. Work(s) submitted should not have been published elsewhere (on a literary platform, personal blog, or social media page). Please ensure that your work(s) are well-edited and proofread.
Sprinng holds the right to determine which submissions will be accepted and published on its platform, and not all submissions to Sprinng will be accepted for publication. We respond on a rolling basis between January and March of the year to inform you if your work(s) is accepted or rejected and when it will be published on our website if accepted.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email Contact@sprinng.org, and we will respond as soon as possible.
Will royalties be paid for this publishing opportunity?
At the moment, we pay a token of N3,500 per accepted piece.
Who can submit to this opportunity?
Anyone who is an African writer can submit to this opportunity.
Is there any age restriction for those who can submit their work for publication?
No, there is no age restriction. The only requirement is to be an African writer and submit up to 2 individual pieces of work that have not been published elsewhere.
Why are there little to no restrictions on the call for submissions?
Sprinng aims to enhance and promote the voices of African writers, doing so with respect to their artistic uniqueness and creative liberty. We have fewer restrictions on our call for submissions because we understand that, often, African writers are unable to publish their works on literary platforms with tight rules or guidelines. We want to present a diversity of writers and writing styles within the African Literary community to connect them with their target demographics and audiences.
Can I submit a full manuscript?
No. You can only submit individual pieces (up to two) in any genre and topic of your choice. Individual pieces, meaning one or more individual poems, one or more individual and complete works of fiction (flash fiction and short stories), and one or more complete pieces of creative nonfiction (essays or book reviews). You may submit up to two works in total in the same or different genres.
If I am submitting a short story, can it be a chapter of a longer novel or book?
No, we are looking to accept individual pieces of work as described above. Meaning the short story has to be a complete piece independent of a fuller book. An example is the short stories in Chimamanda Adichie's The Thing Around Your Neck.
If I am submitting a short story, can it have parts 1 and 2?
No. We are looking to accept individual complete pieces of poetry, fiction (flash fiction or short stories), and creative nonfiction (essays or book reviews). You may submit up to two pieces in total in the same or different genres.
Is there a word limit?
To allow for creative expression, there is no word limit. We seek poetry, fiction (flash fiction or short stories), and creative nonfiction (essays or book reviews).
In what format can I make the submission?
You can only submit your work(s) in a Word document through our submissions form.
Where will the work be published?
Official publications will be published on the front page of our website, www.sprinng.org, and a mass email will be sent out announcing the writers published per month. Writers published on our website will also be promoted on our social media platforms.
When will the works be published?
We plan to publish about 5 pieces by different writers per month. Accepted writers will be informed of the publication month.
When will I hear back about the status of my submission?
We will respond on a rolling basis between January and March to let you know if your work(s) is accepted or rejected.
If I submit more than one piece of work, will all of them be accepted?
We will determine which pieces of work will be accepted and notify writers if none, one, or more of their work are accepted or declined.
If I submit more than one piece of work and they are all accepted, will all of them be published in the same month?
No, we plan to spread the works of the writers submitted to us throughout our publication calendar year.
Will Sprinng open more opportunities during the year?
As done in the past years, Sprinng will open several opportunities for African writers throughout the year. Some of our opportunities include:
The Sprinng Writing Fellowship
The Sprinng Advancement Fellowship
The Sprinng Annual Poetry Contest
Further announcements about our annual plans are shared at the beginning of each year via email and on our social media platforms.
If I do not want to publish or submit my work to Sprinng, what other literary websites can I explore?
We hope that you will consider and utilize our publication opportunity. However, Sprinng encourages writers to explore other literary websites. By sharing their work with literary websites, you gain exposure, establish their reputation, and improve their writing skills. We challenge you to submit to at least two websites per week to amplify these advantages. Discover what these platforms offer - contests, publications, mentorships, free books, etc. Click HERE to learn more!
If you have any questions or concerns, please email Contact@sprinng.org, and we will respond as soon as possible.