The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) in collaboration with the Academic and Non-Fiction Authors Association of South Africa (ANFASA) announces the 2024/25 Open Call for the submission of manuscripts for the DSAC Publishing Hub.

This is an industry stimulus project to support authors and revitalise the books and publishing industry. Also, encourage the creation of new literature telling our stories and preserving our heritage.  It is essential for the Department to provide support for the literary sector to foster a dynamic nation and sustain the creation of a wide range of significant literature including that written in the previously marginalised official languages.

The selection panel will consider manuscripts written in any of the official South African Languages including Khoi and San Languages and will consider submissions in the following categories:

• Novels
• Poetry Anthologies
• Short Story Anthologies
• Drama Text
• Narrative non-fiction (e.g., politics, current affairs, history, military history, sport, true crime, biographies/autobiographies, health and well-being, humour, business and personal finance)
• Children’s and Young Adult books

Please note that we will not consider the following submissions:

• Religion
• Television and Film Scripts
• Novelette and Novellas
• Self Help or motivational scripts

Successful authors will be awarded a sum of R25 000.00 for content development and in addition they will be paired with a publisher that will assist them through the production/publishing process.

An independent selection panel will review the applications and recommend qualifying manuscripts. The selection panel aims to offer opportunity to a wide-ranging group of authors and subjects. A total of up to twenty-two (22) books will be published, two (2) audio books will be produced and four (4) identified books will be converted to braille to accommodate the visually impaired community.

The closing date for submission is 28 June 2024 at midnight.

Please download and read through the guidelines carefully before proceeding with your submission.