We are now taking public recommendations for our 2026 Internatinal Writers programme 🌍
Send us your suggestions before Monday 4 May: https://rsliterature.org/rsl-international-writers/
Graphic saying "The V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize.
We’re delighted to announce this year’s longlist for the @rsliterature.bsky.social V.S Pritchett Short Story Prize! Congratulations to everyone listed, the winner will be announced at the #ALCSAwards. Read here: www.alcs.co.uk/news/longlist-for-for-v-s-pritchett-short-story-prize-2026-announced/
Congratulations to the three RSL Fellows recognised in the 2026 King’s New Year Honours list, marking their outstanding contributions to literature and the arts: Ekow Eshun OBE, Andrew McMillan MBE and Dame Meera Syal.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Giles St Aubyn Awards for Non-Fiction:
£2,500 - Grace Jackson for ‘Beautiful Island: A Journey Through Time in Taiwan’
£5,000 - Brigid Lowe for ‘Shiver: The Lessons of the Lochs’
£10,000 - Rogelio Luque-Lora for ‘LAND: A History of Belonging’
Now announcing the winners of our 2025 Literature Matters Awards!
Find out more about this year's winning projects, selected by judges Hannah Khalil, Kristen Vida Alfaro, and Steve Cook: https://rsliterature.org/rsl-literature-matters-awards/
Today the Royal Society of Literature is delighted to announce our 2025 RSL International Writers!
This life-long honour recognises the contribution of writers across the globe to literature in English, and the power of literature to transcend borders to bring people together.
Time is nearly up to submit to the 2026 RSL Ondaatje Prize, awarded to a distinguished work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry, evoking the spirit of a place.
Send in your work by 5pm tomorrow for your chance to win £10,000: https://rsliterature.org/rsl-ondaatje-prize/
“I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one, and I look at it, until it begins to shine.”
Emily Dickinson, #BornOnThisDay in 1830 📚❤️
Today is your LAST CHANCE to submit to the 2026 RSL Christopher Bland Prize, awarded to a debut novelist or non-fiction writer first published in any form aged 50 or over.
Submit by 5pm this evening: https://rsliterature.org/rsl-christopher-bland-prize/
The Royal Society of Literature is thrilled to announce its new President is Elif Shafak.
Shafak is an award-winning British-Turkish novelist and storyteller, and author of 21 books, 13 of which are novels. Her works have been translated into 58 languages.
A night to remember British Library 🏆
We’re so grateful for everyone who made the launch of our new Pioneer Prize so special, including our panel of wonderful speakers.
Learn more about our awards and prizes: https://rsliterature.org/join-in/awards-and-prizes/
“To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.”
William Blake, #BornOnThisDay in 1757 📚❤️
Hope to see you there —Maureen is the best and I’m delighted to be helping celebrate her on 30 November @britishlibrary.bsky.social @rsliterature.bsky.social
On Sun 30th Nov we will be celebrating the @rsliterature.bsky.social Pioneer Prize, so generously founded and funded by Bernardine Evaristo. The inaugural winner is Maureen Duffy. Join us @britishlibrary.bsky.social or online to celebrate her work: events.bl.uk/events/rsl-p...
We’re holding an event to mark this year’s RSL Pioneer Prize and you’re invited! Swipe to see the line-up 👉
Tickets are available now: https://events.bl.uk/events/rsl-presents-the-pioneer-prize
Some very special moments from our Bourdain Supper Club collaboration with Honey & Co and Bloomsbury Publishing 🍽️
Don’t miss out on some of our last events of the year - tickets available now: https://rsliterature.org/what-is-on/
We’ve got great news for writers across the UK and RoI – the 2026 RSL Ondaatje Prize is now taking submissions! 🥳
Applications are open until 5pm on 12 December 2025. Apply now: https://rsliterature.org/rsl-ondaatje-prize/
Something very exciting has arrived at our office here in Somerset House 👀
Join us for our Pioneer Prize event at the British Library on 30 November to honour Maureen Duffy's impact and legacy: https://rsliterature.org/whats-on/rsl-presents-the-pioneer-prize/
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
Ursula K. Le Guin, #BornOnThisDay in 1929 📚❤️
We’re delighted to welcome A.L. Kennedy, Louise Kennedy and Derek Owusu to our judging panel for the 2026 Christopher Bland Prize.
The award is now open for entries until 5pm on Friday 5 December 2025: https://rsliterature.org/rsl-christopher-bland-prize/
Join our four RSL Jerwood Poets – Roseanne Watt, Scott McKendry, clare e. potter and Karen McCarthy Woolf – at this year’s Push the Boat Out Festival for a premiere of new collaborations co-conceived with musician, Kathryn Williams: https://rsliterature.org/whats-on/the-clearing/
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
Oscar Wilde, #BornOnThisDay in 1854 📚❤️
We had an amazing time watching a performance of Lifers, a new show presented by Synergy Theatre Project.
Exploring the reality of ageing in prison, Lifers was written by Evan Placey, who received our 2018 Literature Matters Award in support of the project. Now showing at Southwark Playhouse!
The 2026 Christopher Bland Prize is now open for entry 🏆
Closing 5pm on Friday 5 December 2025: https://rsliterature.org/rsl-christopher-bland-prize/
Join us for the launch of the RSL Pioneer Prize, a new initiative which will spotlight and celebrate writers who have been trailblazers in their field.
📅 Sunday 30 November, 2:30pm
📍 The British Library/Online
🎟️ £15 in-person/£5 online, FREE for RSL Members/Fellows
https://ow.ly/uVRX50X3AwC
Last week we had the pleasure of presenting Richard Ovenden with this year’s Benson medal at a very special celebration with Bodleian Libraries.
Richard was joined by RSL chair Ruth Scurr and director Laura Greenfield for the UK premiere of The Librarians Film a new documentary by Kim A. Snyder.
“A little credulity helps one on through life very smoothly.”
Elizabeth Gaskell, #BornOnThisDay in 1810 📚 ❤️
Last night this powerful film had its UK premiere, hosted by @bodleian.ox.ac.uk, with courageous librarians like @librarianjones.com there too. Alongside we awarded @richove.bsky.social the @rsliterature.bsky.social Benson Medal. What a privilege to share the stage with them.
See it if you can.
An incredible evening @bodleian.ox.ac.uk: I was deeply honoured to receive the @rsliterature.bsky.social's Benson Medal from Ruth Scurr, then hosted a screening of 'The Librarians', the powerful doc @thelibrariansfilm.bsky.social featuring courageous librarians @librarianjones.com & Julie Miller!
Thank you for the support Terri! 📚❤️
