Become an Emerging
Writer Patron

Each year, we put out a call across the archipelago for emerging writers to send us their stories. After receiving hundreds of submissions, an independent curatorial board selects aspiring novelists, poets, and playwrights from Indonesia’s bustling cities and remote islands. Once selected, the emerging writers are invited to launch the Anthology at the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

This bilingual publication represents a significant opportunity for emerging writers to have their work translated into English, opening doors to international opportunities for the first time. With over 1,212 submissions in 2019, the Emerging Writers Anthology Series has become one of Indonesia’s most wide-reaching literary achievements, showcasing work from across the archipelago.

This year, the programme was open to Indonesian writing creatives eager to share work that responds to the complexities of contemporary Indonesia, from local issues and social challenges to history and the realities of the digital age. We received over 650 submissions from writers across the archipelago, representing more than 21 Indonesian provinces.

From this nationwide response, ten writers were selected in mid-January through a curatorial process led by A. Nabil Wibisana, Cyntha Hariadi, and Siska Yuanita. They will take part in a series of mentoring sessions and workshops before their works are published in the annual anthology and officially launched at the 2026 Festival, taking place from 21–25 October 2026.