Hone Your Writing Skills

The Zamyatin Science Fiction Award calls for submissions of the first 1,500 words of your science fiction work in progress. We’re looking for innovative, stylish work that immerses the reader in a fictional future world. We encourage you to experiment with style and form and push the boundaries of genre. Adlibrio is proud to offer the winner a £1,500 cash prize, along with a feature publication on our website.

This is a new award that celebrates the work of Yevgey Zamyatin, the writer of the dystopian classic ‘WE’, which proved to have such a heavy influence on writers such as George Orwell, Aldous Huxley and Ray Bradbury.

Email submissions will be accepted between 20 November 2024 and 15 January, 2025. Adlibrio will select a shortlist of three entries, each of which will be featured on our website.

Judging

The winner from the finalists selected by the Adlibrio team will be selected by acclaimed science fiction writer Dave Hutchinson, renowned for his Fractured Europe series.

Every entry will receive a free two page critical appraisal of the piece, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses.

All submissions must be single-author prose submissions of up to 1,500 words. We are not interested in AI generated fiction which will be eliminated.

If you have questions or concerns about whether your manuscript would qualify, please email us at zamyatin@adlibrio.com.

Submission Guidelines
• The winner will receive a cash award of £1,500 and featured on our website;
• The second- and third-place finalists will be acknowledged on our website, along with their entry;
• Submitted entries must be between 1,200 to 1,500 words, double-spaced pages, at 12-point font;
• The material should be original and unpublished. Previously published material cannot be considered.
• Only single-author manuscripts will be considered.
• Simultaneous and multiple submissions are allowed, though each submission attracts a £25 entry fee.
• Submissions must not carry your name as judging is anonymous;
• International submissions are allowed, provided the work is written in English.
• Submissions are accepted only by email at zamyatin@adlibrio.com.
• The contest’s deadline is 11:59pm PST on 15 January 15, 2025.
• Every submission will receive a response by the end of March 2025. The winners will be announced by the end of April 2025.