Comedy Women in Print Prize is now accepting submissions until Friday 23 May 2025 across three categories, Published, Unpublished and Self-Published.
The Comedy Women in Print Prize 2025 (CWIP), the UK and Ireland’s first prize to shine a light on witty women writers, has announceda stellar line-up of judges as submissions open for the award’s fifth awards and are now accepting entries.
Created by actress, author, and stand-up comedian Helen Lederer, CWIP was launched in 2019 in response to the lack of support and exposure for female comedy writing and as a way of discovering new talent. This is a truly rags to riches prize that offers a fast track to writing careers to those who would have otherwise been overlooked as well as shining a light on the best of established women’s witty fiction.
In 2019 more men were winning comedy literary awards than women as well as being commissioned by publishers. Since its inception, Comedy Women in Print has created more parity in recognition, celebrated more ‘genres’ of humour initiated by women and enabled new writers to acquire agents or become published success stories.
Hera Books is joining CWIP for the first time as the publisher of the winning unpublished manuscript providing a dream come true for a previously unpublished author.
“In a world in which we are beset by dark news on a daily basis we need levity more than ever – and that’s why CWIP’s mission is not only admirable but deeply important, and we are honoured to be uniting with them to bring the winner of the Unpublished Prize to the market.”
Keshini Naidoo, Founder, Hera Books
Submissions are now open in three categories – Published, Unpublished for emerging writers and a new third category, Self-Published.
“In a world in which we are beset by dark news on a daily basis we need levity more than ever – and that’s why CWIP’s mission is not only admirable but deeply important, and we are honoured to be uniting with them to bring the winner of the Unpublished Prize to the market.”
Helen Lederer, Founder of CWIP
The competition, which offers £10,000 worth of prizes, is a gold standard for a bold and varied range of witty writing styles and celebrates the winners at a fabulous awards event to be held at London’s Groucho Club.
Previous winners and highlighted witty authors have included Nikki May, Silvia Saunders, Josie Long, Lucy Mangan, Dolly Alderton, Mel Giedroyc, Nina Stibbe, Candice Carty-Williams, Gail Honeyman, Diksha Basu, Andi Osho, Daisy Buchanan, Beth O’Leary – all of whom have seen their work cross over into TV and film – and many other talented authors who demonstrate the wide breadth of reliably funny voices.
The 2025 CWIP judges are:
Published: Chrissie Manby, Kerry Godliman, Ranvir Singh, Ingrid Oliver, Chizzy Akudolu, Susannah Constantine
Unpublished: Jennifer Young, Liz Hoggard, Malaika Kegode, Janet Ellis, Keshini Naidoo, Dawn Butler MP
Self-Published: Llewella Gideon, Deborah Maclaren, Nina Wadia, Lesley Joseph, Alison Hume MP, Silvia Saunders
All entries should be submitted before the deadline of Friday 23rd May.
To find out more about the Comedy Women in Print Prize, visit their website.
