shortlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize 🤑

Poor Artists has been shortlisted for the 2025 Gordon Burn prize! ‘The Gordon Burn Prize recognises literature that is forward-thinking and fearless in its ambition and execution, often playing with style, pushing boundaries, crossing genres or challenging readers’ expectations.’ The shortlist is ->

📚 Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel

📚 Ootlin by Jenni Fagan

📚 Mrs Jekyll by Emma Glass

📚 Poor Artists by Gabrielle de la Puente and Zarina Muhammad

📚 Only Here, Only Now by Tom Newlands

📚 The Lasting Harm by Lucia Osborne-Crowley

“These six books… they’re the stories that followed us home, demanding to be heard.” – Terri White, Chair of Judges

“The winner will be announced on 6 March at Northern Stage in Newcastle, and will receive £10,000 and the chance to undertake a writing retreat at Gordon Burn’s cottage.”

if I got £5000 after splitting my winnings with Zarina, I would put it towards an MA in Creative Writing which I know sounds like I’m going backwards if I’ve already written a book but it’s something I want to do and can’t afford to because i am a poor artist ha ha

Looking forward to going to Newcastle though, haven’t been in years. And looking forward to reading the rest of the shortlist :)