ASEAN writers - Fay Khoo Award for Food+Drink Writing

The Fay Khoo Award for Food+Drink Writing provides a platform to encourage writers from the ASEAN region to craft original work that is thoughtful, reflective and engaging. Shortlisted entrants will attend the awards event at George Town Literary Festival in Penang.

Applicants must be citizens or residents of an ASEAN country and entries are invited in English language.

The aim of The Fay Khoo Award for Food+Drink Writing is to recognise new and talented voices, and to encourage and develop excellence in food and drink narratives. This year there are two categories of entry: one each for personal narrative, and reportage. We believe that there is a space and a need for well-researched and impactful food journalism, because it is through such writing that we can shine a light on people, culture, health, economics and and the environment of culinary delight.

Food writing encompasses a huge range of possibilities. We are looking for writing that is lively and creative, and that both engages and educates the reader. Food is about more than sustenance and cooking. The dizzyingly diverse food culture of the ASEAN region offers writers fertile ground for inspiration. Writers today are exploring aspects of culture, food and its environmental context, food from a health consideration, food as a catalyst for socialising andentertainment, food technology, the food industry and its legal, economic and ethical considerations. Food writing is the story of humanity.

The winning entry in each category will receive MYR 2,000, RM 500 in book vouchers, and may also receive other supplementary prizes, at the discretion of the organisers. These will be published on the award website.

Entrants on the Shortlist will be flown to Penang (from a destination within ASEAN) to attend prizegiving at the George Town Literary Festival 2018. The winning entries will be announced at the George Town Literary Festival between November 22-25, 2018.

Deadline for entries: 30 September 2018