2022 Theme

The BCLF Short Fiction Story Contest is an annual writing competition geared towards unearthing and encouraging the distinctive voice and story of the Caribbean-descended writer and expanding the creative writing landscape of Caribbean literature. It aims to provide a conduit through which writers of Caribbean descent find encouragement and empowerment to weave and share their stories. Both of the contest's prizes are directed to the two distinct voices and perspectives which comprise the Caribbean identity - writers who were born and live in the Caribbean and those who reside in the diaspora.

The Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival Elizabeth Nunez Caribbean-American Writer’s Prize seeks to unearth hidden storytellers in the United States and Canada and is open to unpublished writers of Caribbean heritage. The BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Award for Writers in the Caribbean, on the other hand, is open exclusively to Caribbean writers of all levels who reside and work in the Caribbean.

With these two awards, the BCLF ensures that it does not pit the variegated perspective of the ever-expanding definition of the Caribbean writer against itself. Overall, the contest and its prizes work to increase exposure for Caribbean writers to wider audiences. Both prizes are meant to enhance writers' visibility and consequently grow their access to larger literary networks and resources for writers of Caribbean descent. This devotion to narrowing the gaps between the fertile resources of the literary industry and historically under-recognised groups like Caribbean writers remains the BCLF's primary mission while simultaneously guiding the contest's rules and eligibility criteria.

The 2022 BCLF Short Fiction Story Contest awarded US$1,750 in cash for each of the two prizes for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (3000 words max).

Katia D. Ulysse and Ifeona Fulani judged the BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Caribbean-American Writer’s Prize.

Tanya Batson-Savage and Ayesha Gibson-Gill judged the BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Award for Writers in the Caribbean.

WINNER

2022 BCLF ELIZABETH NUNEZ AWARD FOR WRITERS IN THE CARIBBEAN

Read Alexia’s story “The Fix”

“Yveka Pierre’s use of metaphor in “Nadege Goes Home” invokes the poetry of Haitian Kreyol. The language of the story moves with a rhythm most strongly discernible in it's dialogue. Metaphor, language and rhythm combine in this story about siblings to touch deep feelings and create a texture rich with the sense of lived experience.” ~ Ifeona Fulani

WINNER

2022 BCLF ELIZABETH NUNEZ CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN WRITER’S PRIZE

Read Yveka’s story “Nadege Goes Home”

“This poetic story deftly matches form to function with the verse format of the ‘spells’ driving the action forward.  This psychological examination of an insecure lover embodies the scale of a fable while delivering an intimacy through the voice of the narrator. The Fix revels in its aurality and orality and delivers a full sensual experience that haunts the reader long after the final sentence.” ~ Tanya Batson-Savage & Ayesha Gibson-Gill

Finalists

2022 BCLF ELIZABETH NUNEZ CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN WRITER’S PRIZE

Jazz Sanchez (Jamaica) - “Cock Soup”

Amaris Castillo (Dominican Republic) - “El Don”

BCLF ELIZABETH NUNEZ AWARD FOR WRITERS IN THE CARIBBEAN

Callie Browning (Barbados) - “The Science of Garbage”

Portia Subran (Trinidad & Tobago) - “Please Take One”

Testimonials

  • "Being named a finalist for the 2022 Elizabeth Nunez Caribbean-American Writer’s Prize was one of my proudest moments as a writer. It was an absolute joy and a concrete reminder that those of us with Caribbean ancestry carry these stories in our bones. That's a gift I do not take for granted."

    Amaris Castillo, 2022 Finalist

  • "As a newcomer to the world of short story writing, entering the BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Caribbean-American Writer’s Prize was like shouting to the great beyond, “Can anyone hear me?” Being shortlisted and longlisted for my submissions, in response, became the affirmations that moved me to write and share more. This prize is a portal to possibilities. A gateway for exploring the evolving Caribbean narrative. A place to make one's mark and a platform of merit for the Caribbean storyteller."

    Rachelle J. Gray, 2022 Shortlister

  • "I never thought I'd win the Elizabeth Nunez Prize for Writers in the Caribbean. I was shortlisted alongside regional giants, but the BCLF gives writers equal opportunity. I'm so thankful that there is a platform that celebrates Caribbean authors writing from the islands. It feels so good to know that our voices have a stage to be heard."

    Alexia Tolas, 2022 Winner

  • "There’s just something about the BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Writing Prize that feels like home to the Caribbean writer. The remarkable ethos of curating these eclectic voices given to us by our ancestors and not pitting them against each other is warm and nurturing—it echoes that the tiny islands are unsevered navel strings to the rest of the world. I have been shortlisted and longlisted for a couple of prestigious international writing prizes but getting on the 2022 longlist for the BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Writing Prize for Writers in the Caribbean is indeed an undeniable writer’s calling card—a stamp of approval that I’ll cherish forever."

    Damion Spencer, 2022 Longlister

  • "I entered the BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Prize for Writers in the Caribbean in 2022 and was elated when my entry, "Please Take One", was declared a finalist for the competition! They gave this tale about the changing landscape of Chaguanas a home, and have given many new Caribbean voices a platform to share their work. Our stories need to be heard more than ever and I am glad that BCLF is willing to take on this incredibly important task."

    Portia Subran, 2022 Finalist

The awards for the 2022 BCLF Short Fiction Story Contest were made possible by: Dr. Elizabeth Nunez and the sponsors below:

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Special thanks to Safa Iman for providing this year’s trophies.