Enter your writing to our anthology

We are teaming up with celebrity authors and a top publisher to create a new book written by prisoners and ex-prisoners. The book will be called ‘Once Upon A Time’ and we will print 10,000 copies to send to prison libraries, and for the general .

Email onceuponatimeanthology@ for any other queries.

What should I write?

Anything you want.

We want to encourage everyone to get involved, and we’ll accept short stories, jokes, poems, lyrics, articles, essays, recipes, letters, diaries - whatever you want to say. To help we’ve suggested some themes to give you ideas: Love, Respect, Dreams, Judgement, Forgiveness, Reform, Health, Food, Hope, Kin, Fear, Release, Legacy, Time, and Humour. Maximum 300 words and we may edit your entry for length.

How do I submit?

Post us your writing to our special mailbox: Bang Up Books CIC, Unit 149575, PO Box 6945, London, W1A 6US or ask your family or education department to email us at onceuponatimeanthology@gmail.com. Please include your prison and prison number. The writing remains your work however by sending it to us you are giving us permission to use it in the book. Writing must be sent by 30 May to be included. This is a completely non-profit project, any money raised will either go back into printing and distributing more books or be donated to the Samaritans to support their work inside prisons.

Who is eligible?

All prisoners in England & Wales can send in writing, including non-British nationals. Unfortunately prisoners located outside of England and Wales are not able to enter. Those who have been released from prison can enter and there is no maximum time limit since you served your sentence, although you must have served a custodial sentence in England and Wales to be considered. Once you have been released, you can submit your writing from wherever you now live.

What do I get?

The submissions chosen for the book will get mentoring with a professional writer, and you’ll also get your own copy. We will also send a copy to your family if you send us their address
All accepted submissions will receive a certificate of publication from us and a donation will be made to the Samaritans to support their work in prisons
Even if we don’t publish your work, everyone who sends an entry will get detailed feedback from our team.

Will you print my name?

We’ll print your first initial alongside your work if you want us to. No other information will be included - your establishment and full name will not be printed. If your work is selected for publication, you will receive a certificate of publication from us. If you want to stay anonymous or do not want a certificate, please tell us when you submit your writing.