Deborah-Rogers-Foundation-INVERTED

Ten Years on: the Deborah Rogers Foundation announces the 2025 Writers Award

Ten Years on: the Deborah Rogers Foundation announces the  2025 Writers Award 

●    Erica Wagner chairs a panel of three judges
●    Founded in 2015, the DRF Writers Award returns for 2025 celebrating ten years of championing new writing 
●    The winner receives £10,000 to complete first book
Deborah Rogers Foundation Writers Award

The Deborah Rogers Foundation announces that submissions for the 2025 DRF Writers Award will open on 1st January and close on 31st March 2025. 

The judges of the 2025 DRF Writers Award will be the renowned author and literary critic Erica Wagner (chair), the award-winning playwright and poet Inua Ellams and Natalie Haynes, the acclaimed writer, broadcaster, classicist and comedian. 

They will announce the shortlist of three in October and the Award will be presented in November 2025. 

The DRF Writers Award was established in 2015 and over the past decade has helped to launch the careers of internationally bestselling authors. 

Three previous winners of the Award will have their books published in 2025: Mathelinda Nabugodi’s non-fiction work, The Trembling Hand: Reflections of a Black Woman in the Romantic Archive will be published by Hamish Hamilton/Knopf, ‘Pemi Aguda’s novel The Suicide Mothers will be published by Virago/WN Norton and Masobe in Nigeria, and Neil Rollinson’s novel The Dead Don’t Bleed will be published by Jonathan Cape.
 

News

The longlist for the Deborah Rogers Award 2025 is announced - six short story collections and five novels in the running.
The Deborah Rogers Foundation (DRF) marks a decade of supporting emerging literary talent with a refreshed identity for its flagship prize, now renamed the Deborah Rogers Award.
Summer Newsletter 2025
On 2 November, judges Erica Wagner, Inua Ellams and Natalie Haynes will award the winner £10,000 to complete their first book, with highly commended entries receiving £3,000 each.
Deborah Rogers Foundation Writers Award celebrates its first decade with a new name: the Deborah Rogers Award.
Deborah Rogers Foundation Writers Award celebrates its first decade with a new name: the Deborah Rogers Award. On 2 November, judges Erica Wagner, Inua Ellams and Natalie Haynes will award the winner £10,000 to complete their first book, with highly commended entries receiving £3,000 each.
Announcing the DRF David Miller Internship Programme 2025
Submissions open for the David Miller Internship Programme 2025. This 6 week internship in rights and agenting includes a visit to the Frankfurt Book Fair. and valuable time with leading literary agencies and publishers.
Submissions for the 2025 Writers Award close on 31 March
Spring Newsletter 2025
Sponsorship of the Literary Translation Centre at the London Book Fair. Writer's Award closing date and David Miller Internship Programme updates.
Ten Years on: the Deborah Rogers Foundation announces the 2025 Writers Award
The Deborah Rogers Foundation announces that submissions for the 2025 DRF Writers Award will open on 1st January and close on 31st March 2025.
Autumn Newsletter
DRF 2025: The 2025 Writers Award will open for entries 1st January - 31st March 2025 and the Judges are announced. Read the David Miller Internship report.
2025 Writers Award Entry Dates
Entries for the 2025 Writers Award will be sought from 1 January 2025 until 31 March 2025. The winner of the Award will be announced in November next year.
The DRF Summer Newsletter 2024
Leanne Francis and Lena Bruns have been selected as the successful candidates for the 2024 David Miller Internship Programme. Two paid internships provide an entry level insight into rights and agenting in publishing. Placements begin in September and include a visit to the Frankfurt Book Fair 2024.