The Naomi Shihab Nye Prize, 2024
Intro
In a celebration of Arab culture and storytelling, the Naomi Shihab Nye Prize stands out as a guiding light for aspiring writers within the Arab community. Established with the goal of inspiring authors to craft engaging stories for young readers, this yearly prize offers a $1,000 First Prize and a $500 Honorable Mention.
Introduced by Barbara Nimri Aziz, the prize is dedicated to unpublished English-language middle-grade manuscripts tailored for children ages 8-12. Open to Arab Canadian and Arab American entrants, the competition seeks fictional or semi-fictional works across various genres, with submissions accepted online in PDF format.
Who is Naomi Shihab Nye?
Named in honor of the esteemed Palestinian-American writer, Naomi Shihab Nye, the Naomi Shihab Nye Prize draws inspiration from her significant impact on children’s literature. Nye, a distinguished Young People’s Poet Laureate for the U.S. and a prolific author, lends both prestige and motivation to fellow Arab writers through her association with the award. Her influential contributions to literature, as highlighted in this article, serve as an example for aspiring writers within the Arab community, fostering a legacy of excellence and cultural representation in the literary landscape.
Al Bustan Seeds of Culture
Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, a Philadelphia-based non-profit dedicated to enriching cultural understanding, diversity, and the affirmation of Arab American identity, proudly serves as the host institution for the distinguished Naomi Shihab Nye Prize. Mohannad Ghawanmeh, the Executive Director of Al-Bustan, assumes a pivotal role as a key member of the Prize Organizing Committee, contributing to the success and impact of this literary award. At the forefront of this literary initiative is Barbara Nimri Aziz, a seasoned New York-based journalist and anthropologist, whose valuable expertise enhances the depth and resonance of the prize. The alignment of Al-Bustan’s commitment to cultural enrichment with the overarching goals of the Naomi Shihab Nye Prize underscores the significance of this collaboration in fostering literary excellence and celebrating Arab American identity.
How to Enter the Competition?
The submission period for eligible manuscripts, up to 200 pages, for the Naomi Shihab Nye Prize 2024 opens on March 10 and closes on May 10, requiring a $25 USD entry fee upon submission. To ensure impartial judging, participants are encouraged to use pseudonyms if the names in their stories may reveal their identity. Submission guidelines outline specific formatting requirements, including the use of a 12-font and 1.15 spacing, exclusion of entrant’s name from the manuscript, omission of footnotes or works cited, inclusion of a page number at the top right corner, and providing a title page and page count on the submission form. Results for the competition will be announced in September 2024. Further details can be found on the official website.
For inquiries and submissions, please contact info@albustanseeds.org, and let the words of Arab storytellers resonate in the hearts of young readers.
Barbara Nimri Aziz is an American anthropologist, journalist, and writer. She is known for her research and scholarship in the areas of Tibetan and Himalayan Studies. Aziz played a leading role in the Arab-American literary sphere and was involved in establishing the literary collective RAWI. More about Aziz at this link: www.barbaranimri.com
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