Globe Magazine February 2022

The Next Wave

THE NEXT WAVE is a youth literary initiative created by publishers Rosanna Morales and Sophie Clifton Tucker. Their main aim is to encourage and nurture young Gibraltarian writers by giving them the platform to work with published authors, editors, and educators, who will support and mentor them through the publishing process.

They hope this initiative will encourage young Gibraltarian writers to see being published as an achievable goal, and perhaps even a prospective career path. They want to give these young writers the opportunity to put Gibraltar on the map with this ‘next wave’ of local literature.

Coupled with this, they want to also emphasise the significance of creating a literary identity. By contributing to this, they become an integral part in shaping the Gibraltar canon. It’s important to feel part of the place you live, and to feel like you belong. This project is a great way for young writers to connect with Gibraltar.

It is also a great opportunity for young people to have their work read by the wider community. They feel it’s important that the wider community read the thoughts and stories of this new generation of writers, and for them in turn to read a range of literature from other people their age.

The brief is open to encourage aunrestricted creativity. They hope to encourage Gibraltar’s future novelists, play awrights, and poets to take part, and to demonstrate what it means to be a young person in Gibraltar through the power of words.

All entries must be in by 15th March. After the submission date, there will be a period of 4 weeks where a group of assessors (comprised of local published authors and educators) will choose the top pieces of writing. Every entrant will receive a critique of their work with some professional guidance and notes on how their writing can be polished. However, the shortlisted stories will then be taken through the mentorship process, culminating in their work forming part of a physical, published book.

Details: - Open to ages 16-25 - 1000-1500 words - In English or Spanish - Any genre (short story, poetry, play, etc.) - Must be set in, or somehow related to, Gibraltar. Deadline for submissions: 15th March. How to apply: Email thenextwavegib@gmail. com and Rosanna or Sophie will get back to you ASAP with further information.