There is no entry fee and the prize is open to citizens of all Commonwealth countries aged 18 and over, including Papua New Guineans.

Shortlisted entries and regional winners will be announced next year, and the overall winner will be announced at an award ceremony in June 2022.

The overall winner will receive £5,000 (K24,000), whilst the five regional winners will receive £2,500 (K12,000) each.

All finalists will also receive a free membership from The London Library and have their story published in Granta magazine.

Now into its second decade, the prize has been career-changing for many writers.

It showcases their work to a global platform and connects them with a network of talented writers and dedicated readers.

Ingrid Persaud (Russell Watson)

It was the springboard for 2017 winner Ingrid Persaud who published her debut novel ‘Love After Love’ to great acclaim in 2020, and for 2020 winner Kritika Pandey who is now working on her first novel.

The prize has historically accepted pieces written in or translated into English, and written in other languages.

If the winning story is a translation, the translator receives additional prize money.

There is a new addition for this year's prize: the Creole languages of the Commonwealth. Tok Pisin is a Creole language.

Read more about language, and other eligibility rules, here.

So writers, start or polish up your story today and submit it to the 2022 prize.

And spread the word among your writing community and friends.

Link here to the Commonwealth Writers website.

With thanks to Arthur Williams