Bridport Prize launches new memoir award judged by Cathy Rentzenbrink

The Bridport Prize, an annual award with categories for poetry, short stories, flash fiction, and novels, has launched a new memoir category.

Celebrating “the life story, a fragment in time or rear view mirror-look at what was and now is", the prize is open to writers of any nationality writing in English aged 16 and over. They must not have previously published a memoir although previously self-published memoirs, both in print and e-book form, are accepted.

The winning memoirist will receive £1,500 plus a mentoring package from The Literary Consultancy, a consultation with A M Heath, advice from an editor at Hachette’s John Murray and a chance to take part in an online seminar with Professor Sam North from the University of Exeter’s English department. 

The opening chapters of the memoir will be published on the Bridport Prize website, a runner-up will receive £750 as well as a mentoring package, and three highly commended authors will receive £150. 

Kate Wilson, programme manager, said: “The pandemic has made us more aware of how fragile life is and how important friends, family and relationships are. A memoir weaves people and places into a story we can relate to, a snapshot of life that tells a truth we can benefit from discovering.” 

The prize will be judged by Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of the memoir The Last Act of Love (Picador) and Everyone is Still Alive (Phoenix). Her latest book Write It All Down: How to Put Your Life on the Page was published by Bluebird in January 2022.

The prize opened on 15th June and closes on 30th September 2022. More information can be found here.