How to enter the Rachel Cooke Graphic Short Story Prize

Illustration by Chris Riddell for The Observer

Are you an aspiring cartoonist or graphic novelist? Do you have an idea for a story that’s simply burning to be told? If so, gather up your drawing materials as entries are now open for the Rachel Cooke graphic short story prize, run by The Observer in association with Faber.

The winner will take home £1,000 and their work will appear in the New Review in print and online (the runner-up receives £250, and their story will also be published online). Added to that, there’s the thrill of knowing your work has been read and admired by our two terrific guest judges: Helen Macdonald, author of the wonderful H Is for Hawk, which was adapted into a film earlier this year; and Chris Riddell, award-winning author, illustrator and political cartoonist for The Observer. I will join them on the judging panel, alongside Angus Cargill, publishing director at Faber, Paul Gravett, the director of Comica festival; and Tom Oldham of the Gosh! Comics bookshop.

Last year, we renamed the prize in honour of the late great Observer writer Rachel Cooke, whose keen eye turned up some truly extraordinary talents since she began judging it in 2007. Among past winners and runners-up are Joff Winterhart, whose Dear Historian is a candidate for my favourite graphic novel of this year; Isabel Greenberg, author of four terrific books including The One Hundred Nights Of Hero; and Paul B Rainey, whose 2023 graphic novel Why Don’t You Love Me? is being turned into a film starring Jennifer Lawrence.

To enter, you must create a four-page comic designed to run over a double-page spread in The Observer New Review – a story that has a beginning, a middle and an end, and that is told through striking, original illustrations. The closing date is 30 November and the winner will be announced in March 2027, with a special event to mark the 20th anniversary of the prize. For more details and how to enter, visit faber.co.uk.