RESTLESS BOOKS MISSION

Restless Books is an independent, nonprofit publisher devoted to championing essential voices from around the world whose stories speak to us across linguistic and cultural borders. We seek extraordinary international literature for adults and young readers that feeds our restlessness: our hunger for new perspectives, passion for other cultures and languages, and eagerness to explore beyond the confines of the familiar. 

Through cultural programming, we aim to celebrate immigrant writing and bring literature to underserved communities. We believe that immigrant stories are a vital component of our cultural consciousness; they help to ensure awareness of our communities, build empathy for our neighbors, and strengthen our democracy. 


PRIZE FOR NEW IMMIGRANT WRITING

The ethos of the modern world  is defined by immigrants. Their stories have always been an essential component of our cultural consciousness, from Isaac Bashevis Singer to Isabel Allende, from Milan Kundera  to Maxine Hong Kingston. In novels, short stories, memoirs, and works of journalism, immigrants have shown us what resilience and dedication we’re capable of, and have expanded our sense of what it means to be global citizens. In these times of intense xenophobia, it is more important than ever that these boundary-crossing stories reach the broadest possible audience.

With that in mind, we are proud to present The Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing. We are looking for extraordinary unpublished submissions from emerging writers of sharp, culture-straddling writing that addresses identity in a global age. Each year, a distinguished panel of judges will select a winning manuscript to be published by Restless Books. We can’t wait to read and share what the new voices of the world have to say.

—Ilan Stavans, Publisher


OPEN CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS BELOW

Ends on $20.00
$20.00
Submit to The 2024 Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing

INTRODUCTION

Migration is an increasingly common feature of modern life. Whether for personal or for political or environmental reasons, when people cross the many thresholds of our world—traversing landscapes, languages, traditions, and border lines—they do so often at great personal risk. Those who make this transformative passage reckon with the isolation of displacement as well as with the meaning and value of “belonging” on unfamiliar soil. Their stories are the connective tissue of a global society, speaking directly to our present and our future.

Since its inauguration in 2015, the Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing supports the voices of writers whose work brings fresh urgency to crossing cultural and linguistic divides, questions the sense of self in an increasingly interdependent world, and lends a voice to what it means to leave one home for another and why these stories need to be told. The winner will receive $10,000 and publication with Restless Books.


SUBMISSIONS GUIDELINES AND ELIGIBILITY

The Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing (hereafter referred to as “the Prize”) alternates yearly between accepting unpublished fiction and nonfiction submissions. Fiction submissions can take the form of a novel or a book-length collection of short stories. Nonfiction submissions can take the form of a memoir, a collection of essays, or a book-length work of narrative nonfiction. The submission should address some combination of identity, the meeting of cultures and communities, immigration and migration, and today’s globalized society.

  • Fiction manuscripts must be complete. Nonfiction submissions must consist of either a complete manuscript, or a sample of at least 25,000 words and a detailed proposal that includes a synopsis and an annotated table of contents. All submissions must be in English—translations are welcome. 
  • Candidates must be first-generation residents of their country. “First-generation” can refer either to people born in another country who relocated, or to residents of a country whose parents were born elsewhere.
  • Fiction and nonfiction candidates must not have previously published a book-length work in English in the genre in which they’re applying. We encourage applicants to look at the other titles Restless has published and previous contest winners to get a sense of our aesthetic.
  • We will accept only one submission per candidate per submission period, and submissions must be under the author’s real name, not under a pseudonym. Agented submissions are welcome.*
  • Candidates may not submit the same manuscript for the Prize in subsequent years unless specifically invited by Restless.
  • Restless reserves the right to invite writers to submit for the Prize.
  • Restless reserves the right to consider any Prize submission for publication.
  • Submitted manuscripts may be simultaneously under consideration for publication by other publishing houses. Once a manuscript has been selected as the winner of the Prize, Restless will contact the author and ask that the manuscript be withdrawn from consideration elsewhere. A publishing contract between the winning author and Restless Books must be signed before the winner is announced.

* Please note that while Restless Books welcomes all submissions for the Prize, we do not accept unsolicited manuscripts for our regular publishing program.


REQUIRED MATERIALS

Candidates are asked to submit the following:

  • A CV and one-page cover letter. The cover letter should address the candidate’s background as a writer, experience as an immigrant, and a succinct paragraph describing the submitted work and the inspiration for it.
  • All files must be submitted together in one document. Please include the CV and cover letter as the first pages of your submission.
  • The text should be double-spaced, in twelve-point font, with numbered pages. 
  • Submissions must be uploaded as a PDF. 
  • Please adhere to the required word length. Fiction manuscripts must be complete, with a minimum of 45,000 words. Nonfiction samples must be at least 25,000 words in length, and if incomplete, they should include a detailed proposal with a synopsis and an annotated table of contents.
  • Restless will accept only electronic submissions by way of our submissions manager. 
  • There is a $20 fee to submit a manuscript for consideration. Please contact us if this presents a hardship for you.


 

THE PRIZE
 

The winner will receive a $10,000 advance, payable in four installments, and publication by Restless Books in both print and digital editions. The Restless editorial staff will work closely with the winning author to help shape their manuscript for publication.



SUBMISSIONS PERIOD


Submissions for the 2024 Prize in Fiction will be accepted from January 1, 2024, through May 31, 2024.


PROCEDURE

Restless will accept open submissions in addition to soliciting nominations from authors and professionals in the field. The Restless editorial staff will review submissions and recommend a shortlist to the judges, who will select the finalists and winner. 

Restless Books