Everything you need to know to apply for the Portico Prize

For publishers and authors

The Portico Prize is a celebration of Northern writing. Publishers and self-published authors are invited to submit titles in any format across fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Books must be published between 1 August 2019 and 31 July 2021 in the UK or the Republic of Ireland. Authors may be based anywhere.

One prize of £10,000 will be awarded to the winning author. Shortlisted authors will receive one year honorary membership of the Portico Library.

Eligibility and rules have been updated for the 2022 Portico Prize, please read them in full below before submitting.

Entries should be sent as soon as they are available.

To be eligible for entry, all titles must be submitted in both physical and digital form alongside a completed entry form by 31 July 2021.

For all submission queries please contact Sarah Hill: prize@theportico.org.uk

Eligibility and Rules

1. The Portico Prize awards £10,000 to the book that best evokes the spirit of the North of England. This includes, but is not restricted to, books set in the North of England. Where the North of England is located geographically, linguistically, and imaginatively is left to the discretion of those submitting and to the judges.

2. Books must be published for the first time between 1 August 2019 and 31 July 2021. New editions of titles first published prior to 1 August 2019 may be eligible if they have been re-published within the stipulated time frame and include significantly altered or updated content. In this case, copies of both the first published edition and new edition should be submitted. Please send all enquiries to: prize@theportico.org.uk

3. Authors may be based anywhere in the world.

4. Books must be published in the UK and Republic of Ireland and written in English. English translations of a book written in a different language are eligible as long as the UK or Republic of Ireland publication coincides with the submissions period and the original title was published after 1 August 2018. If the Portico Prize is awarded to a translated book, two-thirds of the £10,000 will be awarded to the author and one-third to the translator.

5. Formats are accepted across fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Collections of short stories or poetry written by a single author are eligible, and may contain material first published prior to 1 August 2019, as long as a significant portion of the book’s overall content is new and first published between 1 August 2019 and 31 July 2021.

6. Books must not be written by more than one author. Anthologies by more than one author will not be considered.

7. Children’s books are eligible if they have also been published by an adult imprint within the specified dates.

8. Authors must be aged 16 and over (no upper age limit).

9. Entries will be accepted from published and self-published authors.

10. Books must be published with an ISBN number.

11. Multiple titles may be submitted from the same publisher/author (no upper limit).

12. Previous winning, shortlisted, and longlisted authors of the Portico Prize may re-enter with new titles.

13. All work submitted for consideration may be written in any style or form—including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry—but must be the entrant's own original writing.

14. Publishers must declare if there are any previous or ongoing cases of libel with a nominated book.

15. Entries will not be returned under any circumstances. Correspondence requesting returns will not receive a response.

16. The decision of the Society of Readers and Writers and judging panel as to whether a book is eligible shall be binding and no correspondence shall be entered into.

17. The Portico Prize reserves the right to disqualify any entry if it has reasonable grounds to believe that the entrant has breached any of these Rules or made a false declaration on the entry form.

18. The Portico Prize reserves the right to amend these Rules where it is deemed necessary to do so or where circumstances are beyond the Portico Prize’s control. Any changes to the Rules will be posted on this webpage.

19. The Portico Prize is not open to employees or contractors of the Portico Library.

Submissions

1. There is a £50 fee per entry. Reduced entry fees are available for self-published titles and non-profit imprints. For more information please email: prize@theportico.org.uk

2. Both physical and digital copies of each title must be submitted by 31 July 2021. Five physical copies per title must be received at the Portico Library and a PDF must be sent via email to prize@theportico.org.uk.

3. Each entry must be accompanied with a completed online entry form. If finished published copies are not available by the closing date for submissions, bound proofs may be submitted on condition that they are of good quality and that the content reflect that of the final book. If proofs are submitted before the deadline of 31 July 2021, final copies should be sent in as soon as they are available and no later than 16 August 2021.

4. In the event that a book is longlisted, publishers will be required to send five further physical copies for promotional purposes to the Portico Library.

5. If a book is shortlisted, an additional £500 is required towards general publicity. This figure will be reduced for authors of self-published shortlisted entries and non-profit imprints. Shortlisted authors will be gifted with honorary membership of the Portico Library in 2022. Shortlisted publishers and authors must be available for media interviews and to participate in Portico Prize related events and engagement organised by the Portico Library.

6. One prize of £10,000 will be awarded to the winning author. The winning author will be required to participate in at least one legacy event for the Portico Prize as well as one outreach engagement with young writers for the Portico Sadie Massey Awards.

FAQs

What is meant by ‘the spirit of the North of England’?

The Portico Prize welcomes published literature in any format that evokes a spirit or sensibility of the North of England. This includes, but is not restricted to, books set in the North. Where the North is located, geographically, linguistically, and imaginatively, is also left to the discretion of those submitting and to the judges.


Do I have to be based in or from the North of England?

No. The Portico Prize is open to anyone of any nationality, and resident in any country, over the age of 16 at the point of entry.


Can I pay the application fee via invoice?

If you cannot pay via bank transfer or cheque, we can accept invoice payments. Please send all relevant information to prize@theportico.org.uk


Do you accept PayPal? 

Yes. Please contact prize@theportico.org.uk for more information.


Am I eligible to apply for a reduced entry fee?

We have a limited number of small entry fees for self-published authors and small scale, not for profit publishers. To make an inquiry please contact: prize@theportico.org.uk


Can I submit graphic novels?

Yes. The Portico Prize 2021 is open to all literary formats across fiction, non-fiction and poetry.


Can I submit my book digitally?

Yes. Both digital and physical copies of books must be submitted.


Can I apply if my book has been re-republished within the eligible time window?

New editions of titles first published prior to 1 August 2019 may be eligible only if they have been re-published within the stipulated time frame and include significantly altered or updated content. New ISBN numbers alone are not an indicator of eligibility. Copies of both the first published edition and new edition must be submitted, and final judgement regarding eligibility will be made by the Society for Readers and Writers. For more information, please contact: prize@theportico.org.uk


Is there a limit to the amount of entries per applicant?

No. Applicants may submit as many titles as they wish, but a separate fee must be paid for each title.


Can I submit an anthology of work by multiple authors?

No. Anthologies of any kind must be by a single author.


My book will be published after 31 July 2021. Can I submit proof copies?

If finished published copies are not available by the 31 July 2021, bound proofs may be submitted on condition that they are of good quality and that the content reflect that of the final book. If proofs are submitted, final copies should be sent in as soon as they are available and no later than 16 August 2021.


How do I know if you have received my entry / entry fee?

Applicants will receive entry confirmation by email within one working week notifying receipt of books and payment.


Can I enter a book written in a language other than English?

Entries should be written in English. You can enter an English translation of a book written in a different language as long as the original work is your own. Short extracts or quotations in non-English languages are acceptable.


What happens if my book is longlisted?

If a title is longlisted, three more copies must be provided as soon as possible to the Portico Library. None of these copies will be returned to the author. 


What happens if my book is shortlisted?

If a book is shortlisted an additional £500 is required towards general publicity. The authors of self-published short-listed entries will be required to pay £100. Small publishing houses may also be eligible to apply for a reduced publicity fee. Shortlisted publishers and authors must be available for media interviews and to participate in Portico Prize related- events and engagement run by the Portico Library. Shortlisted authors will be gifted with one year honorary membership of the Portico Library.

Please contact us if you have any questions