The University of Warwick in the UK has launched a new writing prize for ‘an excellent and substantial piece of writing in the English language, in any genre or form'. Open to authors writing in English in any country, the £50,000 (A$102,000) prize will be awarded biennially, beginning in 2009. The theme for the inaugural prize is ‘complexity'. A panel of five judges including mathematician Ian Steward and literary blogger Stephen Mitchelmore will announce a longlist of 15 to 20 titles in October and a shortlist of six in January 2009 with the winner to be announced in February next year. ‘The winning submission will represent an intellectual, scientific and/or imaginative advance and be written with an energy and clarity that make it accessible and attractive to a wide audience,' said a statement. In addition to the £50,000 monetary prize, the winning author will be awarded the opportunity to take up a short placement at the University. To find out more visit www.warwick.ac.uk/go/prizeforwriting.

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