Thank you for taking interest in Quiet Garden’s 2nd Christian Writing Competition! You will find the RULES and REGULATIONS for the competition below. First, please read our short message that will give you more guidance on how to be successful in this competition.

Information about Our Organisation

UFWA, established in 2008, created Quiet Garden Publishing to produce well-written, high-quality books with inspirational themes so as to encourage readers and writers in Uganda, Africa and beyond.

To this end, we are launching our second writing competition to find the most talented Christian writers in Uganda and empower them in their writing with cash prizes and publication of the winner’s work as well as a writing workshop for all shortlisted writers!

Young Adults

We believe that there are great stories out there aimed at Young Adults aged 12 – 18 years old.

In this time of Covid, many young adults find themselves overwhelmed by feelings of uncertainty as schools remain closed in Uganda. Many do not know what the future holds and are unable to envision a path to achieve their dreams and goals.

How can this generation of young adults be inspired through stories and novels, biographies of people who overcame adversity or even inspirational books that offer advice and guidance about how to achieve success in life.

We at QG are proud to be associated with Ghanaian author Lawrence Darmani who writes for young adults and whose book, Grief Child, won the Commonwealth’s Prize for the best first book from Africa. The protagonist is a young boy and the story has a strong Christian theme. This is a good example of the type of novel you can submit. Or you can submit books that offer Christian advice on how to navigate the treacherous path of life.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• This is a Young Adult Christian Writing Competition.

This means that the themes of the work have to be suitable for readers between 12 and 18. Therefore, the chosen themes should be simplified for this audience and the story entertaining while also giving the readers important life lessons.

• There will be a training for those whose Manuscripts have been shortlisted.

Rules & Regulations

A. Organisers

Quiet Garden Publishing, the publishing arm of Uganda Faith Writers Association (UFWA), is the organiser of this competition

B. Eligibility

i) The Author

The Quiet Garden Writing Competition accepts original manuscripts with Christian themes written by Ugandan writers who are 18 years of age and above.

ii) Categories

Books may be in the following categories

• Novels
• Biography
• Autobiography
• Inspirational or Motivational

NOTE: Absolutely no plays or poetry allowed.

iii) The Manuscript

• Length – between 35,000 and 55,000 words

• Manuscripts should be original unpublished works or a self-published book released on the market in the last two years.

• All submissions must be in English.

C. The Prize

i) The overall winner who will be awarded a cash prize of USD 550. Quiet Garden will also publish the winning book free of charge.

ii) The first runner up will receive a cash prize of USD 130. Quiet Garden will help identify possible publishers for the work.

iii) The second runner up will receive a cash prize of Quiet Garden will help identify possible publishers for the work.

iv) The judges reserve the right to not award a prize should the entries fail, in the judges’ opinion, to meet the required standard. Judges could also decide not to award the prize to consecutive winners.

v) Quiet Garden reserves the first right of refusal for publication for the award-winning manuscript and the first and second runners-up.

D. Number of Entries – Limited to ONE (1) submission per writer.

E. Selection

Quiet Garden Publishing will check details concerning the eligibility of the authors and the manuscripts submitted. Only manuscripts of authors who meet the criteria will be accepted and sent to the judges. An independent panel of three judges who are experts in the field of writing will select the winners from amongst the manuscripts. The judges’ decision is final and no appeals or correspondence will be entertained at any point.

F. Shortlist

Will be announced in December 2021.

G. Prize

The winners will be given their prizes at a ceremony in January 2022 in the hope that the situation as concerns COVID-19 would have stabilised.

H. Conditions of Entry

i) Each entry must include (in submission email or as a cover page – page 1 – of submitted work) the following:

1. 1. Title of the work
   2. Name of the Author
   3. A short biography of the author – a little personal information about you and your writing journey. Should not be more than 150 words
   4. A summary of the manuscript (the submitted work), not more than 150 words
   5. The Format:

• The title of the entry should be in the middle of the cover page. The beginning of the manuscript should start on a new page.
• The name of the author should be directly below the title of the work.
• On the top right-hand corner of the cover page, please specify the word count of the entire manuscript.
• Use Times New Roman font, size 12, double spaced.
• Margins should be one-inch all around.

I. Entries should be submitted by the author.

J. Submission

i) All entries must be submitted in soft copy and emailed to: quietgardencompetitions@gmail.com

K. Entries will only be accepted from 10^th August 2021 to 31^st October 2021

Entries that fail to comply with any of the above rules and conditions of entry will be disqualified.

All the BEST!