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Penguin's China competition

28.07.08 Catherine Neilan

Penguin China is to sponsor an Apprentice-style literary prize to find the country's next generation of young writers. The prize, dubbed "The Next – A Search for the New Face of Chinese Literature", was set up by Changjiang Art & Literature Publishing House, fiction journal Top Novel, online literary community Qidan.com and the Sina.com web portal.

Authors will submit their works for the first round by September, from which a shortlist of 36 will be drawn and judged by a panel of major authors and critics. The final winner will be selected from four finalists in April 2009, winning prizes worth RMB1m (£73,500 approx), which includes a publishing contract, an advance, payment of outstanding college fees and marketing.

All four finalists will be sent to the UK to meet authors and publishers "and get a glimpse of London's international publishing scene".

John Makinson, chairman and c.e.o of Penguin Group, said: "Penguin is committed to supporting up-and-coming writers around the world, whether they are from Shanghai or San Francisco. We very much look forward to reading 'the Next' sensation to come out of China's burgeoning literary scene."

Guo Jingming, novelist and editor of Top Novel, said the magazine has been "inundated with manuscripts and phone calls" from aspiring writers. He said: "This early response tells us that the number of young people in China interested in literature is as great as ever, and we're optimistic that we will find some impressive new talent."

Book International Penguin China Catherine Neilan

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