A new competition for short innovative biographical writing designed to lead to publication by Kingston University Press Ltd.

We seek either publication-ready manuscripts and/or proposals with a sample chapter for this competition. Scripts and proposals will be judged separately by a team of judges that includes life-writers and biographers Rachel Cusk, Alexander Masters, Dr Jane Jordan and Peter Porter (all associated with Kingston Writing School) as well as KUP editors and directors.

 Key facts

§  Closing Date: Post-marked by midnight Friday 10 February 2012

§  Entry Fee: £20 per item

§  Each entry to be a maximum 35,000 words (judges will favour those under 30,000 words)

§  You may submit multiple entries, provided the £20 entry fee is paid for each

§  The author of winning manuscript or manuscripts will be published by Kingston University Press *

§  Prize winners will be contacted by 13 April 2012 and results posted on our website

* The author of the winning proposal or proposals will be offered a series of four editorial sessions with KUP editors designed to help them move forward with their work with a view to contracting the publication of their book

For further information on Kingston University Press and complete details of this competition including rules please visit the

Website: http://fass.kingston.ac.uk/kup/short-biography