Emerging writers should not be producing work with the objective of winning prize

Dear Editor,

First let me state that my UK publishers have never heard of the Guyana Prize for Literature and since I am not about to tell them about it my latest novels will not be submitted for consideration.

I have been paying attention, however, to the exchange in the newspapers between Al Creighton, secretary and administrator of the prize’s board, and writer Ruel Johnson with regard to shifting the deadline for submissions and I am troubled by some of the comments being made.

I think it is a serious disservice to emerging writers to have them believe that the primary or only reason to write is to produce competitive work in order to win a prize. This is wholly reductive and dishonours the fine worldwide tradition of writing and literature which has created enduring classics that have shaped our very thinking and civilization.

Many of the writers of the older classics never received much acclaim or recognition during their lifetime but then most writers write because they have talent, a fine intelligence, and because they have something to say. They do not write for the goal of a prize or with a prize deadline in mind.

To win prizes for one’s book is, of course, always a happy occasion and the way the process usually works is that after a book is published the publishers might feel it is good enough to enter into a prize-giving competition and the work is then submitted.

The integrity of a book is immediately compromised when a writer sets out to produce competitive work for the approbation of a panel of judges in order to win a prize and, most especially, if the prize is sponsored by a government agency. This would require more than a little self censorship on the part of the writer if they really want to win.

Is this what makes a work “competitive”? That it pleases the authorities? And is it that we have prizes therefore we must rush about and work hard to produce writers?

Should it not be a case that we have so many good writers we should then move to award prizes? And, truly, are we there yet?

I won a Guyana Prize once because the publishers of my first novel thought it was good enough and they submitted it for consideration. Because I have my own opinion about the Guyana Prize, I will never again allow any of my books to be submitted. I believe the feeling of disregard is mutual so this is not a problem.

I wish all the competitors good luck.

 

Yours faithfully,
Ryhaan Shah