Announcing The AAWP X UWRF23 Translators Prize

Are you an English literary translator who is passionate about building bridges between cultures through language? If the answer is a yes, then we have good news for you. The ‘AAWP/UWRF Translators’ Prize’ is now open for submissions. 

The AAWP/UWRF collective vision is to promote the work of under-represented writers to a broader ‘English-using’ audience, in order to celebrate the art of translation by building both local and global writing communities from within our broad geographical region.

If you win you will receive: a festival pass to Ubud Writers and Readers Festival and accommodation for the duration of the festival (Terms and Conditions apply, see below). In addition, you will receive a one-year annual membership to the Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP) and fully subsidised conference fees to attend the annual conference of the AAWP, where you will be invited to read from your work. The editors at Meniscus Literary Journal will also consider your work for publication.

Take advantage of this stunning opportunity to celebrate the craft of writing and translating at one of the most vibrant and diverse literary festivals in the world. Be welcomed into the thriving community of writers within the AAWP. Enter your work of translation (poem or short story) and make the most of this generous publication pathway and networking opportunity for writers and translators.

HOW TO ENTER

Submit your work to bring your literary writing to a wider, English-language readership through this program:

The entry fee is AUD 20. Conditions For Entry and Terms and Conditions are below.

CONDITIONS FOR ENTRY

1. This competition is open to translators at any stage of their career.
2. The translator must have prior approval to translate and publish the translated work, ensuring the translation is covered by copyright law—the original author (or copyright holder in the case of a deceased author) must have signed a release, both for the translation and for publication of the translation. That release must accompany the entry.
3. The Prize opens on March 27, 2023 and closes at midnight (local time) on June 30, 2023. Late submissions will not be accepted. The winner will be announced on the AAWP website and the UWRF website no later than September 30, 2023.
4. Entries must be in English.
5. When submitting your work (via Submittable), please use the section marked ‘Cover Letter’ to add your full name and a 100-word author bio (as you would like it to appear on any prize announcements).
6. Entries should not exceed 30 lines (poetry) or 3000 words (prose). Prose may be a standalone work or an extract from a longer-form work of literature. The translator may be the author of the original poem, short story or extract from a longer-form work of literature (which may have been originally published in a language other than English). The award is for entries unpublished in English, including online publication.
7. AAWP/UWRF recognise that translation is an act of interpretation, even when the original work is the translator’s own. Entrants must submit a ‘Translator’s Statement of Intention’ (maximum 400 words) addressing their aims in approaching this particular work of translation, including (but not limited to): limitations, possibilities and aims. The Translator’s Statement of Intention is assessed as part of the judging process.
8. Suggested formatting for the entry is as follows—line spacing: 1.5, font size: 12-point, font: Times New Roman or Garamond.
9. Translators may enter as many times as they wish. Subsequent entries incur a separate fee.
10. The AAWP/UWRF reserves the right to disqualify any entry that breaches the Conditions of Entry. The entrant will be provided with written notification of the disqualification. If an entry is disqualified no refund will be given. Entries may not be altered after they have been submitted.
11. The judges’ verdict is final. The judges will not enter into correspondence or discussion about the outcome.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Where the translator is not the original author of the work that has been translated, the translator represents and warrants that they have obtained permission from the original author or copyright owner in the work to adapt the work into the translation. The original author (or copyright holder in the case of a deceased author) must have signed a release, both for the translation and for publication of the translation. That release must accompany the entry. The translator will unconditionally indemnify and keep indemnified the AAWP against all losses, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable legal expenses as between solicitor and client) that the AAWP incurs as a result of or in relation to a breach of any of the translator’s representations or warranties under this clause.
2. Moral rights will remain with the original author of the translated work. Moral rights include: crediting the overall winner on all copies of their entry/entries; not editing or altering winning entries without the consent of the author. The translator will hold copyright in the submitted translated work. The AAWP will not reproduce any entries without the express permission of the translator. If needed, a copyright licence can be negotiated after the Prize has been awarded. If the translated work includes Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) and you inform us of this, AAWP will acknowledge the language group or Indigenous community with an appropriate notice of custodial interest, to be negotiated with you.
3. The overall winner will receive one festival pass to UWRF 2023. The festival pass allows access to UWRF main stage sessions but does not guarantee access to ticketed special events, including masterclasses and workshops. The winner may need to attend UWRF in 2024 (rather than 2023), depending upon where they are based.
4. Accommodation is provided for the winner for the duration of UWRF (up to five nights). Accommodation is arranged by AAWP in consultation with the UWRF Head of Programming. Costs associated with alterations to bookings are the responsibility of the winner.
5. The winner is entitled to a one-year membership of the AAWP. Entrants are not required to hold an existing membership, but if they are successful then their current membership will be extended by one year.
6. AAWP conference fees (negotiated annually) are provided for the winner. This includes conference attendance (and all the benefits that entails). Extra fees (i.e. for the conference dinner, or for special activities such as workshops or tours) are the responsibility of the winner. Travel and accommodation are the responsibility of the winner.
7. Publication in Meniscus is not guaranteed.

For further information, please click here.