HAPPINESS LITERARY FOUNDATION

The Happiness Literary Foundation (HLF) (NPC registration number: 2022/460246/08) is an artist-run, not-for-profit organisation that fosters and promotes the culture of reading and writing within South Africa communities and invests in the professional development of local artists. We work to expand access to literature, elevate marginalised voices, and build sustainable literary ecosystems that nurture creativity across generations.

Our goals are to:

• Cultivate a reading-for-pleasure culture by increasing access to diverse, engaging literature.
• Support and develop emerging writers through training, mentorship, and skills-development programmes.
• Champion underrepresented voices to ensure their stories are shared, celebrated, and widely accessible.
• Build sustainable literary ecosystems through partnerships with schools, libraries, publishers, and cultural institutions.
• Create platforms for artistic expression through festivals, workshops, school programmes, and community outreach initiatives.

Programmes that are currently administered by the HLF:

iLEMBE BOOK FESTIVAL

iLembe Book Festival – a book festival which foster intimate engagement in literature and poetry among the community of iLembe District Municipality and the surrounding communities. 

HLF CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAMME

In keeping up with our objectives, the Happiness Literary Foundation invites applications for the HLF Creative Writing Programme, an opportunity for South African writers to develop their voices and strengthen their skills in a supportive, professional environment. The goal of the programme is to provide writers with the resources and support they need to develop their works-in-progress, while fostering meaningful connections with peers and professionals in the publishing industry.

About the Programme

This call of the programme focuses on English fiction (novels (all genres) and short stories). 

Participants Receive:

• Mentorship and masterclasses from established South African authors and academics
• Practical training in creative writing craft and technique
• Opportunities to workshop their writing with peers
• For selected writers: support toward developing and publishing a full-length book through Happiness Books

Who Should Apply

• South African citizens and residents aged 18 and over
• Preference will be given to writers from underserved communities, especially women and youth
• Manuscripts should be at an advanced stage of development – typically manuscript’s size is 40 000 – 80 000 words
• Writers must not be currently contracted to a publisher or represented by a literary agent

How to Apply

Submit the following to marketing@happinessbooks.co.za:

• A short author bio (max 250 words)
• Synopsis (up to a page) and target audience
• Current size of your manuscript (word count)
• Writing sample (up to 5 000 words)
• Your full name and contact details

Submission Guidelines

• Submit all materials as one Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx)
• Include only the first 5 000 words of your manuscript
• Font: Arial, Aptos, Times New Roman, Garamond, or Calibri
• Font size: 12 pt
• Line spacing: 1.5

Key Dates for the 2026 Programme

• Submissions open: 06 January 2026
• Submissions close: 06 February 2026
• Programme start: early March 2026
• Duration: 6 months
• Format: Virtual
• Successful writers will be notified by 28 February 2026