The 2021 PRIZE

Congratulations, massive clapping and respect to all the witty writers 2021 - you did it! and we are so glad you did...

2021 Winners

Jesse Sutanto

Published Winner

Dolly Alderton

Published Runner-Up

Rebecca Rogers

Unpublished Winner

Hannah Dolby

Unpublished Runner-Up

Kat Sumner-Ailes

Unpublished Runner-Up

Meera Syal CBE

Witty Writer Award

Deborah Frances-White

Game Changer Award

2021 Awards Programme

Awards Event Highlights

video-highlights

gallery

Awards Event Gallery

Anneka Rice, Helen Lederer and Kathy Lette

Helen Lederer Looking eager before the awards start

Jane Lyons and Lynn Truss shortlisted CWIP 2021 CWIP Published

Sam Baines

Emma Williams and Clare Ward-Smith 2021 Shortlisted Unpublished

Unpublished Prize head judge Sarah Shaffi

Hannah Dolby Unpublished Runner-up (Falmouth MA in Comedy)

Rebecca Rogers winner of CWIP 2021 Unpublished Prize

Wondrous Flash Fiction Judge Llewella Gideon

Esteemed guests Vanessa Feltz and Ben Ofoedu

Deborah Frances-White CWIP Game Changer Award

Superb Mel Giedroyc -Shortlisted Published author

Kat Sumner-Ailes Runner-up 2021 Unpublished Prize (place University of Herts MA Creative writing)

Meera Syal - CWIP Witty Writer of the Year 2021

Brilliant CWIP singer Georgia Cranden

THE CWIP Hussies 2021

Esteemed guest Nell McAndrew

Helen starting it off...

Rowland Hughes Dean University of Hertfordshire - supporting CWIP with the MA in Creative Writing

Kat Sumner-Ailes happy to receive CWIP Runner-up Unpublished 2021

Helen photobombing with Sarah Shaffi, Kat Sumner-Ailes, Rowland Hughes

Happy speech by Hannah Dolby Runner-Up Unpublished Prize 2021

Helen, Hannah Dolby and Ruth Heholt Professor at Falmouth University

The super Faye Brann winner of 2021 CWIP Unpublished Prize

Helen, Faye Brann and Martha Ashby at Harper Fiction and publisher of the winner of 2021 Unpublished Prize

partners

2021 Partners

2021 Supporters

Latham and Watkins | David Rocksavage | Laurie Peters Cartoons

2021 Donators

Michael Bonsor - Rosewood Hotel Holborn | Peter da Silva - Palais Amani

2021 Judges

judges

Joanne Harris

Head Judge - Published

Dame Maureen Lipman

Published Novel Judge

Steph McGovern

Published Novel Judge

Cathy Rentzenbrink

Published Novel Judge

Nina Stibbe

Published Novel Judge

Susan Wokoma

Published Novel Judge

Sarah Shaffi

Head Judge - Unpublished

Martha Ashby

Unpublished Novel Judge

Faye Brann

Unpublished Novel Judge

Gloria Hunniford

Unpublished Novel Judge

Thanyia Moore

Unpublished Novel Judge

Dr Jennifer Young

Unpublished Novel Judge

shortlist

The 2021 Published Novels Shortlist

Joanne Harris, Chair of Judges for the CWIP Published Novels Prize says:

“This is a fantastic shortlist, showcasing the tremendous breadth and diversity of women’s comic writing. From domestic disaster to murder most femme, this list offers something for everyone.”

The increase in entries prove that there are so many talented witty authors simply bursting to be read. From a lawn mower catastrophe (The Best Things Mel Giedroyc) to an audacious Chinese comedy (Dial A for Aunties Jess Sutano). From an Indian wedding out of control (Destination Wedding Diksha Basu), to wringing the joy out of head lice (Domestic Bliss and other disasters Jane Ions). From the hilarity and reality of friendship (Ghosts Dolly Alderton) to mischief and wrongdoing (Murder by Milk Bottle Lynn Truss).

Dolly Alderton

Diksha Basu

Mel Giedroyc

Jane Ions

Jesse Sutanto

Lynne Truss

Click for more
literary facts

The 2021 Unpublished Novels Shortlist

Sarah Shaffi, Chair of the Unpublished Comic Novels Prize, says:

“We wanted to laugh, and laugh we did...The books we've chosen show raw talent, huge potential, put women's voices at the fore and, importantly, had us laughing throughout. It shows the depth and breadth of funny women writing today, and I hope that this year's shortlist can be built on in future years to create a more inclusive and welcoming landscape for funny women writers."

The range and ingenuity of comedy narrative sung out. From pregnant women do summer murders (The NCT Murder Kat Sumner-Ailes) to seedy detective work (The Lady Detective Hannah Dolby). From Stepsister adjustment (Fools Rush in Jo Lyons) to legal power pants (Labour Law Clare Ward). And from Dave’s version of hell (The Purgatory Poisoning Rebecca Rogers) to senior travels with a grandson (The Death and Life of Agnes Grace Emma Williams)

We cannot wait to see the next phase of these talented witty writers. You saw them here first!