Call to writers everywhere
Submissions are now closed
Submissions are now closed for the 2024-2025 Tom Grass Spirit of Adventure prize. Please subscribe and we will send you an email when submissions reopen in the Autumn.
Eligibility criteria
The Tom Grass Prize is open to all writers from all over the world who are over the age of 25 and writing in the English language.
They can be previously unpublished, or with no more than 1 major published work in the English language.
The word count is between 1,500 and 3,000 words.
The entry can be either fiction or non-fiction and must be a stand-alone piece of prose.
Entrants are invited to reflect the spirit of adventure in subject matter and/or style in whichever way and in however broad a sense the writer interprets this.
Prizes
1st prize: £1,000
Two runners-up prizes: £500 each
Judges
Laetitia Rutherford Erskine
Laetitia is a literary agent at Watson, Little where she represents a diverse list of Fiction and Non-Fiction writers. She regularly gives writing workshops, collaborating with Kingston University, Indie Novella, and Sally Bayley among others. In 2024, Laetitia received the University of West London’s Vice-Chancellor’s Award to begin a part-time Phd to run alongside managing her list of authors.
Justin Wateridge
An avid traveller and lover of books, Justin has worked in travel for over thirty years. He does so with a curiosity for people, places and planet. And in particular, arbitrary lines.
Luigi Bonomi
Highly accomplished literary agent and Managing Director of LBA Books in London. With a background in English Literature from University College London and Dartmouth College, he has over 35 years of experience in the publishing industry. Bonomi has launched the careers of numerous bestselling authors and was named Literary Agent of the Year in 2010.
Tanya Datta
Highly experienced foreign current affairs journalist with scores of investigative documentaries under her belt, who in recent years has turned to writing fiction as well, Tanya counts herself as a storyteller first and foremost. Tanya studied English Literature at Oxford University, Journalism at City University and Creative Writing at Birkbeck, London.
Neale Anderson
Neale took English at Oxford before teaching for 3 years in Okinawa. Work has since taken him to Melbourne, Tokyo and Hong Kong, enabling him to indulge his love of adventure. He loves fine writing in all its forms.
Adele Grass
Mother to Tom Grass, avid reader and lover of literature.
Judging process
The Prize opened for submissions on 1st October 2024 and closed on 31st March 2025. All submissions have been logged.
The Tom Grass Prize supporters have formed a group of readers to assess all entries. By discussion and democratic process, a longlist will then be referred to the panel of judges. The panel of judges will decide on the winning 3 entries to include 2 runners-up and 1 overall winner.
The prize will re-open Autumn 2025.
