TWS Literary Excellence Award

The TWS Literary Excellence Award is open to all writers based in Pakistan, whether you are entering for the first time or have written for years. There is no age limit, so writers of every age and background are welcome. Both emerging and established voices compete on equal footing, judged only on the strength of the writing.

Poetry Category: each entry is one poem of up to 60 lines. Prose Category: each entry is one piece of short fiction, essay or creative non-fiction of up to 3,000 words. Please submit each entry as a single PDF file, clearly formatted and proofread, as it will be read exactly as you send it.

Your writing remains entirely your own. You retain full copyright at all times, and entering never signs your rights away. By taking part, you simply grant TWS Publications permission to publish and promote a winning or shortlisted piece in connection with the award.

Each category has its own winners. In each, the first-place winner receives a cash prize of PKR 50,000, along with the prizes and opportunities listed on this page. Second and third place receive PKR 10,000 and PKR 5,000 respectively. Depending on the strength of the entries, our editorial board may also release a list of honourable mentions.

A submission fee of PKR 1,000 applies to each entry, paid by bank transfer using the details on the submission form. This fee supports the judging and running of the award, and your payment receipt must be uploaded with your entry for it to be validated.

Submit your entry through the form on this page, where you attach your PDF piece and your payment receipt. Once your entry is received, you will get a confirmation acknowledging it. Please review your piece carefully before submitting, as the version you send is the one that goes to the judges.

Poetry Category entries must reach us by 15 November 2026, 11:59 PM. Prose Category entries open on 23 November 2026. We recommend submitting a little ahead of the deadline, as entries received after this time are held for a future cycle.

Poetry Category winners are announced on Sunday 29 November 2026, and Prose Category winners on Sunday 20 December 2026, on our Instagram @twspublications and by email. Winners are contacted directly to arrange their prize.

• Work must be your own original writing; previously published work is welcome.
• Accepted languages are English and Urdu.
• Writers of both poetry and prose can enter both categories. Duplicate entries will not be considered.
• Entries must be submitted through the official form only.
• Incomplete submissions (missing piece or missing payment receipt) will not be reviewed.
• Late entries are not considered for the current cycle.
• Entry fees are non-refundable, including for disqualified, withdrawn, or incomplete entries.
• Entries may be disqualified for plagiarism, offensive content, or failure to follow the submission guidelines.
• Winners and shortlisted entrants grant TWS Publications permission to publish and promote their piece in connection with the award, across our website, anthology and social media, while retaining full copyright.
• The number of prizes and honourable mentions may vary each cycle.

Every submission is read by the TWS editorial team alongside a panel of guest judges, all experienced writers and literary experts. Entries are assessed on originality, creativity, literary style, clarity, emotional impact, narrative structure, thematic depth, and overall resonance. The winning entry shows exceptional literary merit and offers a unique, compelling perspective.

If you have any questions about your submission, the entry fee, or the contest rules, please reach out to us at info@twspublications.com and a member of our team will get back to you.

The TWS Literary Excellence Award is one of Pakistan's most prestigious writing competitions, run by TWS Publications, Pakistan's leading publishing house. It recognises outstanding original writing from across the country with cash prizes, publication, and national recognition.

Yes. The award is a nationwide writing competition open to writers based anywhere in Pakistan, from first-time writers to established authors, with no age limit.

You enter by completing the submission form on this page, attaching your writing as a PDF along with your payment receipt.

The entry fee is PKR 1,000 per submission, paid by bank transfer, with the details and receipt upload provided on the submission form.

Each category, Poetry and Prose, has its own winners. In each, first place receives PKR 50,000, and second and third place receive PKR 10,000 and PKR 5,000. Winners also gain publication, an author spotlight, a certificate, and national and international visibility.

The award has two categories. Poetry Category: one poem of up to 60 lines. Prose Category: short fiction, essays and creative non-fiction of up to 3,000 words. Both accept writing in English or Urdu.

Yes. Writers of both poetry and prose can enter both categories, and you may send up to three entries in each category. Every entry is read and judged on its own, so each one needs its own entry fee and its own payment receipt. A receipt counts for one entry only: where the same receipt is attached to more than one entry, only one of those entries is considered.

Yes. The TWS Literary Excellence Award offers cash prizes of up to PKR 50,000 for outstanding writing, making it one of the most rewarding writing competitions in Pakistan.

Entries are judged by the TWS editorial team and a panel of experienced guest writers, who assess each piece on its originality, craft, and impact. Winners are the pieces that show the strongest literary merit.

Poetry Category winners are announced on Sunday 29 November 2026, and Prose Category winners on Sunday 20 December 2026, via our Instagram @twspublications and by email. Every entrant is welcome to follow the announcement.

Yes. You keep full copyright of your work. Entering only grants TWS permission to publish and promote a winning or shortlisted piece in connection with the award.