June 2025 Writing Calls for African & Ugandan Writers
Let’s keep our names in these rooms.
Dear writers, poets, and storytellers,
If you're an African writer, especially one from Uganda, getting your work published isn't just about adding to your portfolio; it's about visibility, validation, and being part of a larger literary movement.
Each submission is a chance to tell your story, amplify your voice, and contribute to global literary conversations.
Whether you're looking for poetry submissions for African writers, short story calls for Ugandan writers, or international literary prizes open to the African diaspora, here's a curated list of where to submit your work in June 2025, with deadlines you can still catch. And a few rolling opportunities, too.
Let’s keep our names in these rooms.
📅 Deadlines Closing in June 2025
✍🏿Writers Space Africa – August 2025 Edition
Theme: A Place I Call Home
Categories:
Poetry (1 poem, max 24 lines)
Short Story (max 1,500 words)
Flash Fiction (300 words)
Creative Non-Fiction (1,200 words)
Children’s Literature (700 words or 24-line poem)
🗓️ Deadline: 15th June 2025
🔗 Submit via WSA portal
✍🏿 2. The Storms: Journal of Poetry, Prose & Visual Art
Open to: Global submissions (inclusive of African voices)
Deadline: 8 June 2025 at 11:59 PM GMT
Genres: Poetry, Prose, Visual Art, Hybrid
Where to Submit: eatthestorms.com
🔗 Submit here
✍🏿 3. Narratives Against Poverty in Africa Literary Prize
Theme: Narratives Against Poverty in Africa
Submit up to 2 pieces per genre (poetry, fiction, non-fiction)
Poetry: max 40 lines
Open to African writers and diaspora, 18+
Deadline: 30th June 2025
Submit via: africanwritingprogram@gmail.com
Anthology to be published August 2025
More details: Here
✍🏿 4. The Stony Thursday Book (Limerick Arts Office, Ireland)
Open to: International poets
Deadline: 2 June 2025
Genre: Poetry
Where to Submit: Limerick Arts submission portal
🔗 Submit via Limerick Arts platform
🔄 Rolling & Year-Round Opportunities
🌀Palette Poetry
Open to: Global poets, prioritising marginalised voices
Genre: Poetry (up to 5 poems or 10 pages)
Payment: $50 per published poem
Where to Submit: Palette Poetry’s Submittable
Paid poetry submissions, poetry for African writers, Quick Response for Historically Marginalized Authors
🌀 Brittle Paper
Open to: African writers everywhere
Genres: Fiction, Essays, Reviews, Poetry
Where to Submit: brittlepaper.com
African literary blogs, short story submissions Africa, Ugandan poetry online journals for Ugandan writers
Things to Note When Submitting
📝 Edit ruthlessly. Typos, awkward phrasing, or tense errors can get you cut before your brilliance is even seen.
📌 Respect the submission guidelines. Word count, formatting, and file type matter.
🫶🏾 Rejection isn’t the end. It’s proof that you showed up. Many editors remember names. Resubmit. Keep growing.
📌 Visibility is power: The more you submit, the more doors open. Start small, stay consistent.
🧾 Track your submissions: Keep a record of where you've submitted and when to expect replies.
Getting your work out there is part of the writing journey, and platforms that prioritise historically marginalised voices like African voices are hungry for your perspective. So write, polish, submit! And let’s keep each other accountable.
I'll be back soon with more listings. (if you find an opportunity, DM me or Comment below and add to the resources.
Keep creating. Keep submitting. Keep shouting your name.
With ink and awkward light,
Alwedo