Other News

9th Taiwan Literature Award for Migrants open for submissions

The 9th Taiwan Literature Award for Migrants (TLAM) is accepting submissions starting today until June 5, 2024. The competition is open to literary works in Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Filipino, and Burmese, with prizes totaling up to NT$350,000 (US$10,800). The initiative is to encourage migrant workers to express themselves in their native language, facilitating broader recognition of voices from abroad.

Sunday’s press conference stated that migrant workers, new immigrants, and their children were invited to submit works within 3,000 words, covering any theme. From each language, 50 works will be selected, translated into Chinese, and judged by a panel of writers, awarding prizes including a first prize of NT$150,000 (US$4,600).

The event coordinator Hsieh I-yun (謝易芸) emphasizes the importance of these stories as they are not only individual stories but also stories of Taiwan. The founder of TLAM, Chang Cheng (張正), believes promoting writing among Southeast Asian migrant workers fosters dialogue and understanding, enriching Taiwanese culture.

Spotify says 25% of US, UK, Australia subscribers try Audiobooks

Spotify has reported a significant uptick in audiobook engagement among its paid subscribers in the US, UK, and Australia, with one-quarter of them starting to explore audiobooks through their subscriptions. The data also indicates a strong appeal among younger listeners, with 57% of users aged 18 to 34 showing interest in the format.

Spotify began offering paying subscribers 15 hours of audiobook listening a month last October as part of an effort to attract new subscribers and keep existing customers on the platform longer. The feature is now available in six markets, including, most recently, Canada and Ireland. Recent statistics reveal a doubling in purchases from the first quarter of this year compared to the last quarter of 2023, signaling promising growth for Spotify’s audiobook venture. The company’s efforts to attract new audiobook enthusiasts include offering more tools and an author-oriented dashboard, alongside leveraging podcast platforms to promote audiobooks and authors, resulting in notable increases in consumption.

UWRF Collaborates with AAWP to Empower Emerging Writers

In an exciting collaboration, the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) has once again joined forces with the Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP) to offer aspiring writers from Australasia a unique opportunity to advance their literary careers. The call has been issued for submissions to the Emerging Writers’ Prize of Prose and the Emerging Writers’ Prize of Poetry, inviting writers to showcase their talent and creativity. Additionally, translators at all stages of their careers are encouraged to submit to the Translators’ Prize, presenting an opportunity to showcase their skills on a prestigious platform.

Selected winners will have the chance to journey to the 2024 Festival and immerse themselves in a literary experience like no other. Moreover, their work will be featured in Meniscus Magazine, further amplifying their voices within the literary community. Aspiring writers and translators eager to seize this opportunity are encouraged to visit the link provided in Ubud Writers and Readers Festival’s bio for detailed information on prizes and application procedures.

This collaboration underscores the commitment of both organizations to foster talent and promote diverse voices within the literary landscape.