Oxford/42 New Writing Prize: Terms and Conditions
1. This competition is being organised by (i) Faculty of English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford (“English Faculty”), St Cross Building, Manor Road, Oxford OX1 3LU and (ii) 42 M&P Ltd, Palladium House, Argyll St, London W1F 7TA (“42 M&P”) (together the “Organiser”).
2. This competition is open to all unagented writers of novels, stage plays, radio plays, and screenplays for TV or film, living, working or studying in the UK or Ireland at the closing date for submissions.
We are looking for new talent so it is understood that all authors will not previously have entered into a publishing contract, and all screenwriters, radio and playwrights have yet to be commissioned by a producer to develop an idea, or had their work optioned, for the stage, radio or screen.
3. You must be at least eighteen (18) years old to enter this competition.
4. One winner will win a Prize of (i) £1500 (one thousand five hundred pounds) and (ii) an agency contract with 42 M&P (the “Prize/s”). The Prize is conditional on the winner entering into a representation contract with 42 M&P. If the parties cannot agree terms, the English Faculty and 42 M&P reserve the right to select a new winner.
5. To enter the competition, you must submit a synopsis of 300 words maximum for the full novel, stage or radio play, TV series or feature length film-script, and an elevator pitch of no more than two sentences for a work of fiction, along with one of the following in Word format:
Novel – the first 10,000 to 15,000 words
Stage or radio play – a complete script of between 30 and 90 pages
Screenplays – a script of between 30 and 60 pages for the first episode of a TV show or a complete feature-length film script of 90 pages
To: oxfordwritingprize@42mp.com
6. Your entry must be your own original work and not: (i) copied from any other person; and/or (ii) created using any artificial intelligence or other similar technology. By entering this competition, you are agreeing that we may check your work for copying and/or the use of artificial intelligence in its creation.
7. You will retain ownership of copyright in your submission, however neither the English Faculty nor 42 M&P will be able to return copies of any submission, and it is your responsibility to keep a copy. Neither the English Faculty nor 42 M&P will be able to provide feedback on any entry other than the shortlisted entries.
8. The competition opens at 00:01 BST on 18th November 2024 and closes at 23:59 GMT on 30th April 2025. Entries received outside these dates and times will not be accepted.
9. Only one entry is allowed per person.
10. If you win, no purchase is required to redeem the Prize.
11. The Prize is non-refundable, non-transferable and subject to availability.
12. No other alternative to the Prizes are available, and the Organisers reserve the right in their reasonable discretion to substitute any Prize with a Prize of equal or greater value.
13. Six shortlisted entries will be selected by a panel of judges including:
Writers Abby Ajayi, Chris Chibnall, Rona Munro and Robert Douglas-Fairhurst
based on (i) writing quality, welcoming experimental work as well as work with appeal to a broad audience; and (ii) entries received that have complied with these Terms and Conditions. The shortlisted entrants will be notified by email by 30 May 2025. All shortlisted entrants will receive a mentoring session by Zoom from a manager in their discipline at 42 M&P. The winner will be selected by the judging panel from the shortlist and notified in the second half of June. These dates may change if we receive a higher-than-expected volume of entries. The number of shortlisted writers may be reduced to four if there are not enough entries of a sufficient quality.
14. The Organiser is not responsible for contacting or forwarding the Prize to entrants who provide unclear or incomplete information or for entries lost, misdirected, delayed, or destroyed. If the winner cannot be contacted within a reasonable timeframe, the Organiser reserves the right to select another winner.
15. The Organiser will use reasonable endeavours to deliver the Prize within one (1) month of the winner being notified that they have won the competition. However, the Organiser is not liable for any delay in the delivery of the Prize.
16. The Organiser will aim to adhere to the deadline for delivery stipulated above, however if the Organiser is unable to meet that deadline due to any circumstances arising as a direct or indirect result of a pandemic, epidemic or any other potential unforeseen factors outside of their control, the Organiser will ensure relevant timely communication with the winner and, in the unlikely event that delivery becomes impossible, the Organiser will offer a reasonable substitute of the Prize which is of equal or greater value.
17. The Organiser’s decision as to who has won the competition shall be final.
18. To obtain the name of the winner after the closing date, please write to: oxfordwritingprize@42mp.com
19. By entering the competition, you are agreeing that, if you win, your name and image may be used for the purpose of announcing the winner and in any related publicity with the Organiser without any additional payment or permission. You also commit to visiting the Faculty of English within one year of winning the Prize to offer a workshop or other event for the Faculty’s students (exact details and timing to be agreed between you and the Faculty).
20. The entry instructions are part of the Terms and Conditions for this competition. By entering this competition, you are agreeing to accept these Terms. Any breach of these Terms and Conditions by you will mean that your entry will not be valid, and you will not be allowed to enter this competition.
21. Any personal information you give the Organiser will be used solely for this competition and will not be passed on to any other parties without your express consent. The English Faculty’s privacy policy can be found at: https://compliance.admin.ox.ac.uk/data-protection-policy
22. Under no circumstances will the Organiser be responsible for any loss, damages, costs, or expenses arising from or in any way connected with any errors, defects, interruptions, malfunctions or delays in the promotion of the competition or Prize.
23. Any dispute relating to the competition shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales and will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
