Deborah Rogers Award

The Deborah Rogers Award is presented biennially to an unpublished writer of exceptional promise.

Winner: £10,000
Shortlisted Authors (2): £3,000 each

Who Should Apply?

The Award is designed for writers of literary talent who need financial support to complete their first book.

Submission: 15,000–20,000 words.
Genres: Fiction, non-fiction, children’s literature, or short stories.
Eligibility: Applicants must reside in the British Commonwealth or Ireland.
Status: You must be previously unpublished.

The Process

Every two years, a panel of prestigious literary judges selects the winner and runners-up.

Timeline: Entries are invited in the Autumn for judging the following year.
Volume: We generally receive between 800 and 1,000 entries.
Updates: follow our social media channels for announcements.

Read our full rules of entry and submission guidelines here

The Deborah Rogers Award History

The Deborah Rogers Award was the first initiative of the Deborah Rogers Foundation, set up in 2015 in memory of the much loved and respected literary agent, Deborah Rogers. In keeping with Deborah’s special talent for nurturing and supporting emerging new writers, the Award gives £10,000 to enable an unpublished writer to complete their first book. In 2025, the DRF Writers Award was renamed the Deborah Rogers Award.

18 writers supported to date.
9 debut books published.
In 2025, the Writers Award was renamed the Deborah Rogers Award. The winner receives £10,000 and the two shortlisted authors £3,000 each.
19+ major literary prizes won or shortlisted by alumni (including the Women’s Prize for Fiction and Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year).
46+ foreign editions published.
Critical Acclaim: Works have been named "Book of the Year" by the New York Times, The Observer, and The Washington Post.

Notable alumni include Imogen Hermes Gower, whose runner-up manuscript The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock sparked a 10-way publishing auction.

"This valuable award demonstrates a commitment to nurturing talent: keeping an eye out for up-and-coming writers who are making the world new is something I've always held close to my heart. To be involved in a prize like this is very meaningful to me." — Erica Wagner, Chair of the Judges, 2025

Explore our Previous Winners

Visit the News Page for the Deborah Rogers Award Archive