Hi There! This Is the University Creative Writing Competition 2026
Are you the one who writes devotionals for your CU WhatsApp group?
Do your friends say you should write a book?
Have you carried a testimony, story or idea that could help another student?
The University Creative Writing Competition 2026 exists to discover, nurture and celebrate young Christian writers within Christian Unions across Kenya and Africa.
This is more than a competition. It is a call to young believers to steward their creativity with courage, excellence and biblical conviction. Through essays, devotionals, short stories, poetry, children’s content and other creative expressions, students are invited to shape messages that can become books, resources and conversations that serve the Church, the family, the marketplace and the next generation.
Entries should reflect Christian values, biblical conviction and a clear desire to build, disciple, encourage or transform readers.
Students are encouraged to write with originality, clarity, courage and beauty. The pen is small, but the assignment can be mighty.
We welcome stories and ideas shaped by African contexts, campus realities, family life, culture, leadership, faith and purpose.
Christian Unions can use this opportunity to identify writers, thinkers, creatives, storytellers and communicators within their fellowship.
Strong entries may open conversations around mentorship, editing, publishing, book development and wider visibility.
This is a call to use talent for God’s glory, not merely applause. A message submitted in obedience can become seed in many lives.
CLC Kenya, ACABA and MABB invite Christian Union students to write for Christ, for Africa and for a generation that needs truth wrapped in creativity, courage and excellence.
Think of a message. Shape it into words. Submit your writing. Come showcase your gift and step into the journey of becoming a published Christian author.
This is more than a competition. It is a platform for young writers who believe that books still matter, ideas still carry weight, and words — when surrendered to God — can outlive the writer.
The awards are designed to help promising young writers move from raw gift to refined manuscript, from manuscript to publishing preparation, and from publishing preparation to visible impact.
14 weeks writing mentorship class sponsorship.
Everything in Bronze plus:
Everything in Bronze and Silver plus:
All other finalists receive a 10% discount on writing mentorship classes, publishing cohorts or printing on demand.
Every finalist is encouraged to continue developing their writing gift and publishing journey.
This competition is aimed at impacting lives with Christian literature!
These guidelines help every participant understand the writing standards, eligibility expectations, award conditions, review process and final agreement attached to the competition.
By submitting, you confirm that your work is original, not fully AI-generated, Gospel-centred, within the accepted genres, and suitable for high school students and/or Christian young adults. You also confirm your availability for the 14-week mentorship program and, if shortlisted or awarded, your willingness to attend the Annual BookFest in Nairobi on 5th December, 2026 at your own cost.
All submissions must be the participant’s original written work. The work must not be copied, plagiarised, adapted from another author’s work without permission, or submitted under another person’s name. Submission should be between 5,000-10,000 words
Submissions must not be fully AI-generated. However, responsible AI assistance is allowed for brainstorming, grammar checks, editing suggestions, outlining, or improving clarity. The final work must reflect the participant’s own voice, creativity, convictions, and storytelling ability.
Only the following genres, with strong storytelling, will be accepted for this submission:
Self-help or motivational-style manuscripts such as “5 Principles of Success,” “7 Steps to Greatness,” “10 Keys to Purpose,” and similar instructional books will not be accepted for this submission. The emphasis should be on strong storytelling, biblical truth, creativity, reflection, and Gospel-centred impact.
The submitted work must advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ and align with CLC Kenya’s mandate. CLC Kenya states its mandate as honouring God by making Christian literature and resources available and accessible, helping people come to faith and maturity in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Submissions must show strong storytelling, clear structure, believable characters or reflections, meaningful conflict or development, and a purposeful message. Even devotionals and memoirs should be written in an engaging way that connects with the realities of high school students and/or young adults in university and society.
All writing must uphold Christian values and must not contain explicit sexual content, vulgar language, glorification of sin, occult promotion, graphic violence, or content that contradicts the Gospel message. Romance is allowed only if it is clean, modest, purposeful, and consistent with Christian values.
Award recipients must be available for a 14-week writing mentorship class, held for 1.5 hours every week. Participants who are unable to commit to the mentorship schedule may forfeit the award.
Participants must understand that the awards will involve traditional publishing terms and conditions. Where applicable, shortlisted or winning participants will be required to review, agree to, and sign relevant publishing agreements before receiving publishing-related benefits.
This is a non-monetary award. The award is a sponsorship of services, which may include writing mentorship, publishing support, and/or printing benefits depending on the award category. No cash equivalent will be given.
The award and its benefits cannot be transferred to another person, exchanged for cash, reassigned, sold, or deferred without written approval from the organisers.
Awards will be announced on 5th December, 2026 in Nairobi. Shortlisted participants and award recipients must be available to attend the Annual BookFest in Nairobi in person and at their own cost. Representation by another person will not be allowed.
Participants must ensure that their submissions do not infringe on any copyright, trademark, image rights, or intellectual property rights. For comics, all artwork must either be original, created by the participant, or used with proper permission.
The submitted work should not have been commercially published before. Work that has appeared on a personal blog, school platform, church bulletin, or social media may be considered, provided the participant owns the rights and declares this during submission.
Selected works may be subjected to editorial review, mentorship, rewriting, and publishing development. Participants must be willing to receive feedback and revise their work where necessary.
A submission may be disqualified if it:
The judges’ decision is final. Judges are not required to provide individual feedback or enter into correspondence regarding the outcome of the competition.
The organisers reserve the right to use the participant’s name, photograph, submitted title, video pitch, excerpts from the work, and related information for publicity, reporting, promotion, and award-related communication. Full publication rights will be subject to separate written agreement where applicable.
By submitting their work, participants confirm that they have read, understood, and agreed to these guidelines.
The submitted work must be original and must not infringe on another writer’s copyright.
Participants should choose one category for their submission. The writing should be original, well-structured, thoughtful, and relevant to the realities of young adults in high school, university and society.
Write on how young people can know God, understand their identity in Christ, and grow as committed disciples in today’s world.
Write on how young people can discover their purpose, develop their gifts, and serve their generation with integrity.
Write on the real experiences of university life and how students can practise Christian character in daily decisions.
Write on the emotional and psychological pressures young people face, and how faith, wisdom and supportive community can help them overcome.
Write on how young people can build healthy relationships, honour family values, and contribute responsibly to society.
Write on how young people can engage with technology, media and digital platforms with wisdom, creativity and responsibility.
Adherence to the submission guidelines.
Advancement of the Gospel, even where no scriptures are quoted.
Clarity of message.
A letter from the CU Chairperson (student).
A letter from the CU Patron (lecturer).
Africa has many stories, many testimonies, many teachers, many dreamers and many unwritten books.
This competition exists to help university students discover that writing is not merely an academic exercise. It can be ministry. It can be service. It can be leadership. It can be legacy.
Men and women passionate about Christian literature for the African youth.
National Director, CLC Kenya. Convener, ACABA & MABB.
Director – Media, Research & Development.
Programs Coordinator.
Head of Outreach – Print on Demand.
Head of Outreach – Mama Africa Book Box.
Administrative Assistant – Publishing & Post-Publishing.
Administrative Assistant – YouVersion Bible Plans.
Administrative Assistant – Rights, Translations & Media.
Partner with us to provide mentorship, publishing support, printing, awards, event logistics and long-term author development for the next generation of African Christian writers.
Chat to Partner With UsThis is your invitation to begin. Register. Write. Submit. Learn. Grow. Win. And perhaps, one day soon, another student will hold your book and say, “This helped me.”
To make review easier, participants are encouraged to submit their entry as a complete package with clearly named files.
Here are the key details students, Christian Union leaders, patrons and sponsors need to know about the University Creative Writing Competition 2026.
It is a creative writing competition organised by CLC Kenya, ACABA and Mama Africa Book Box to discover, nurture and celebrate young Christian writers within Christian Unions across Kenya and Africa.
The competition exists to help students steward their creativity, develop their writing gifts and shape messages that can inform, inspire, disciple and transform lives.
The competition is open to Christian Union students in universities and tertiary institutions.
Applicants should be young Christian writers with a message, story, testimony, devotional idea or creative work that can serve other students, families, churches, communities and society.
You should submit the following:
The submission deadline is August 15.
Students are encouraged to prepare their manuscripts, letters and payment proof early so they do not miss the submission window.
Participants should choose one of the approved topic areas:
The writing should be original, thoughtful, well-structured and relevant to the realities of young adults in high school, university and society.
Accepted genres include fiction, memoir, devotional, allegory and black-and-white comics.
The work should be storytelling-led, Gospel-centred and suitable for high school students and/or Christian young adults.
Your work must be original and must not be fully AI-generated.
You may use tools responsibly for light support such as grammar checking or formatting, but the message, story, structure and core writing must be your own.
The competition will not accept work that contradicts Gospel values or contains inappropriate content.
Avoid explicit content, vulgar language, glorification of sin, occult promotion, graphic violence, or content that is unsuitable for Christian young adults. Romance, where included, should be clean, modest and purposeful.
Judges will consider:
The awards are designed to help promising young writers move from raw gift to refined manuscript, and from manuscript to publishing preparation.
Terms and Conditions apply.
No. The award is non-monetary. It is focused on mentorship, publishing support, printing support and long-term author development.
The goal is not only to reward writers, but to help them grow into authors whose work can serve others.
Shortlisted and awarded participants should be willing to attend the Annual BookFest and Award Ceremony in Nairobi on Saturday, 5th December 2026.
The event will take place at NPBC Garden Estate, Nairobi, Kenya, from 8.30am to 8.30pm.
The Award Ceremony will take place during the Annual BookFest at NPBC Garden Estate, Nairobi, Kenya.
The event date is Saturday, 5th December 2026, from 8.30am to 8.30pm.
The competition is organised by CLC Kenya, ACABA and Mama Africa Book Box.
Together, these platforms support Christian literature, African Christian authors, mentorship, publishing development and reading culture across Africa.
You can WhatsApp either of the following team members:
Yes. Sponsors can partner with the organisers to provide mentorship, publishing support, printing, awards, event logistics and long-term author development for the next generation of African Christian writers.
To discuss sponsorship or partnership, WhatsApp Dr. Muthoni Omukhango: Click to chat
Still have a question? Reach out to the team, read the submission guidelines carefully, then register your entry within the submission timeline.
Mama Africa Book Box by CLC Kenya
