Our WOW goal is to create a single literary space of the world of writers, to strengthen creative and friendly ties of writers of five continents
Interview with Russian poet Margarita Al, WOW President, by Ashraf Aboul-Yazid
The World Organization of Writers “WOW” has called to unite the creative efforts of writers from all over the world in the struggle for a humanitarian future, in which culture, literature and spiritual values will play a key role in ensuring peace and stability on the planet. The organization is open to all who share these ideals and strive to contribute to the better future of humanity through words and creativity.
Recently, WOW announced that its first award will be given next spring in Abuja, Nigeria. I am interviewing Russian poet Margarita Al, WOW President to highlight this event and explain all of its detailed procedures.
I would like you to showcase the beginning of WOW, and its sharing path with the Literary Eurasian Festival of Festivals (LIFFT)
Margarita Al
For the first time, the idea of creating the World Organization of Writers “WOW” was voiced at the literary forum “Creating the Image of the Future Man and the Future Man in Literature” as part of the Eurasian Literary Festival LIFFT-2019 in the Republic of Azerbaijan, where writers from 52 countries of the world gathered.
For the three following years of work of the Literary Council of the Assembly of the Peoples of Eurasia and the holding of international literary forums and festivals, the number of participants increased significantly, and so was the need to create an organization to unite writers not only from Eurasia, but also from all continents of the world was ripe.
Only a moral and responsible person can save the world, which is overflowing with contradictions, poverty and hunger, inequality, epidemics, extremism and terrorism
I read the message of ambassador of GOOD WILL UNESCO, poet Alexandra Ochirova, who said that “Today, only a moral and responsible person can save the world, which is overflowing with contradictions, poverty and hunger, inequality, epidemics, and what is especially terrible, the misanthropic ideas of fascism, nationalism, extremism and terrorism, which must be forever removed from the spiritual and ideological arsenal of humanity. That is why the problems of humanitarian security and humanitarian modernization must be integrated into all protocols of interaction between countries and peoples.”
I think that in Cairo, you turned the idea into reality…
Margarita Al
Yes, the initiative group of writers from 18 countries of the world, within the framework of the 6th Eurasian Literary Festival LIffT-2023 in the Arab Republic of Egypt, issued a statement/memorandum on the intention to create the World Organization of Writers “WOW”, whose goals and objectives are aimed at humanitarian modernization and the development of spiritual and moral values. .
Who are the founders of the World Writers’ Organization “WOW”?
Margarita Al
The founders of the World Writers’ Organization “WOW” were: Founder of the international literary movement LIffT-2015-2035, Chairman of the Literary Council of the Assembly of Eurasian Nations, poet – Margarita Al, co-chairmen of the Literary Council of the Assembly of Eurasian Nations, the six iconic laureates of the Eurasian Literary Award LIffT, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, poet – Alexandra Ochirova, International Union of Non-Governmental Organizations “Assembly of the Peoples of Eurasia”, Pan-African Association of Writers “PAWA”, Fund for Assistance in the Development of Cultural Projects of the Peoples of Eurasia “LIFFT”
What is the goal of WOW?
Margarita Al
Our WOW goal is to create a single literary space of the world of writers, to strengthen creative and friendly ties of writers of five continents on the basis of spiritual and moral values common to all nations, as the main strategic resource of a stable and safe human existence.
What are the tasks of WOW?
Margarita Al
We briefed our tasks to expand professional interaction, exchange of experience in the organization of literary forums and festivals, increase the prestige of literature and the authority of the modern writer in society, promote and exchange of literary publications, support and promotion of works with the perspective of the image of a future human being, add to the contribution of writers to the creation of a multipolar world with humanitarian priorities.
“WOW World Literary Award” has been established by the “World Organization of Writers” (WOW). Is it different from the literary Award “Golden LIffT”?
Margarita Al
“WOW World Literary Award” is the successor of the literary Award “Golden LIffT” – 2016-2023. The new Co-founders of the WOW World Literary Award are the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly, the Pan-African Association of Writers PAWA, and the LIFFT Foundation for the Promotion of Cultural Projects of the Eurasian Peoples. The founder of the Award organizes the awarding of the Award and bears all expenses associated with the payment of the monetary part of the Award, the production of award sets, their ceremonial presentation and the organization of the work of the Award bodies.
What is the main goal this new WOW Award aiming to?
Margarita Al
“WOW World Literary Award” was established with the aim of finding and encouraging authors of literary works who can make a significant contribution to world literature, on the basis of spiritual and moral values common to all peoples, as the main strategic resource for sustainable and safe human existence and development.
Give our readers more details on this Award.
Margarita Al
The Award is awarded annually. The announcement of the Award has been made by the founder of the “WOW World Literary Award” through the media. The announcement specifies the procedure and conditions for nominating works for the Award, the criteria and procedure for evaluating works, the size and form of the award, the procedure and timing for announcing laureates and recipients of the Award.
What are languages permitted and works accepted?
Margarita Al
WOW Award accepts works written in Russian, English, Spanish and Arabic and their translations are nominated for the Award. Works are nominated in two categories for the Award: poetry and prose. The Award does not establish restrictions for authors of works based on age, citizenship, place of residence and place of publication of works. The Award is awarded for works written during the writer’s life. The Award may also be awarded for an unpublished work.
Who could apply, and how?
Margarita Al
The number of Awards, the amount of their monetary part, the size of the bonus fund and the address for accepting works and nomination documents are established by the founder of the Award annually and are announced. We started accepting works. First day we had 12 applications that followed the regulations on the Award published in the media and on the official website of the Award.
Beside the poetry or prose works, what are the documents to be submitted?
Margarita Al
A digital copy of the book or magazine publication of a work; information about the nominator – the author, or the organization nominating the work for the “WOW Award” – the necessary contact numbers and addresses; a short creative biography of the author (all co-authors, if the work was written in co-authorship), indicating the last name, first name, family name, penname (if any), a list of the most significant publications (if any), a review of the book; the full title of the work, basic information about the work, its creative features, with the motivation for its nomination; written consent of the author to nominate a work for the “WOW Award” if the nominator is not the author of the work; all specified documents to be provided electronically to info@wow-lifft.com; marked for competition “WOW Award”,
Along with these appendixes;
Appendix No. 1, https://cloud.mail.ru/public/TfSS/jLidW3VA3
Appendix No. 3, https://cloud.mail.ru/public/tK9b/kb8xqzPVW
Appendix No. 4, https://cloud.mail.ru/public/RwcL/C8M611ugE
In the absence of a complete package of materials in accordance with the organizing committee of the “WOW Award” has the right to withdraw the work from consideration;; the works are accepted from December 1st, 2023 to March 1st, 2024.
You also announced there will be a special award of “WOW-LIFFT”
Margarita Al
The authors have the right to nominate manuscripts for the “WOW-LIFFT” competition. Authors writing in Russian, English, Spanish, and Arabic or their works are translated into these languages have the right to nominate a manuscript for the “WOW-LIFFT” competition. Manuscripts are accepted in two categories: “Poetry”: up to 32 lines, “Prose”: up to 2000 characters (short prose or excerpt from a work). In nominations, works on any topic are accepted, with the exception of those containing political, religious and other kinds of propaganda, calls for national hatred, violating copyright.
When nominating for “WOW-LIFFT”, the following materials are provided: Manuscript in electronic form in pdf format; a short creative biography of the author indicating the last name, first name, family name, penname (if any); the full title of the work, basic information about the work, its creative features, with the motivation for its nomination; all of the above documents are provided electronically to info@wow-lifft.com; with the mark – for the competition “WOW-LIFFT” (Ascension)“, with filling these Appendixes:
No. 2, https://cloud.mail.ru/public/tK9b/kb8xqzPVW
Appendix No. 3, https://cloud.mail.ru/public/tK9b/kb8xqzPVW
In the absence of a complete package of materials, the award organizing committee has the right to withdraw the work from consideration; all works nominated for “WOW-LIFFT” competition, after checking compliance with the requirements, are registered with the Award secretariat and receive registration numbers; Works nominated for the “WOW-LIFFT” competition are not reviewed, and correspondence with the authors is not conducted; the works are accepted с 1.12.2023 г. – 1.03.2024 г.
What are the Awards of the World Literary Award “WOW”?
Margarita Al
In four language groups, three works are selected in the “Poetry” nomination and in the “Prose” nomination: 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. There will be 24 authors in total for all languages. It’s a long list of finalists.
Authors who are awarded first place in each language group in the Poetry nomination and in the Prose nomination reach the finals. They will be 8 authors in total. This is a short list of finalists.
“WOW” Award – awarded to one of 8 authors. Seven authors become running up winners.
The “WOW” award is a gold medal, a cash Award and a book publishing agreement. Diploma recipients (7 authors in total) – these are 3 large silver medals and a contract for the publication of a book; 4 silver medals and a contract for the publication of a book.
The authors included in the long list of the award are the Diploma of the second and third degree of the “WOW” Award. The award ceremony will take place as part of the VII World Literary Festival “WOW-LIFFT-2024” – April 4-6, 2024 in Nigeria, Abuja.
For the special award of the “WOW-LIFFT” Award, in four language groups, three works are selected in the “Poetry” nomination and in the “Prose” nomination: 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. 24 authors in total, and this is a long list of “WOW-LIFFT” finalists.
Authors who are awarded first place in the language group in the Poetry nomination and in the Prose nomination reach the finals. There will be 8 authors in total.
This is a short list of finalists. Special award “WOW-LIFFT” – awarded to one of 8 authors. 7 authors become WOW-LIFFT diploma winners. The special award “WOW-LIFFT” (1 author) is a small gold medal and a contract for the publication of a book. Diploma recipients of “WOW-LIFFT” (7 authors) – this is a first-degree Diploma of “WOW-LIFFT” and publication in a collection of works by short-listed authors.
The authors included in the long list get the Diploma of the second and third degree and publications in the Egyptian magazine “Silk Road” and in the magazine “WOW-LIFFT”. The award ceremony will take place as part of the VII World Literary Festival “WOW-LIFFT-2024” – April 4-6, 2024 in Nigeria, Abuja.
Who are the Jury members of the WOW Award?
Margarita Al
The coordinator and members of the “WOW Award” Jury are appointed by the Founder of the “WOW Award” represented by the “WOW” Board: the Chairman and members of the Board.
The coordinator of the “WOW Award” forms the secretariat of the selection committee in 4 language groups.
Also read: WOW World Literary Award: Call for Submissions
For jury, the presiding commission of the jury, by decision of the founder of the “WOW Award,” includes 4 writers from among the WOW Award Laureates (Golden LIffT-2016-2023); they also head 4 language groups (Russian, English, Spanish and Arabic) and form groups of 5 jury members in each language group. The chairman and members of the Board of Trustees, the chairman and members of the Supreme Creative Council of WOW, the chairman and members of the Board of “WOW” are invited to the final vote.
Website: https://wow-lifft.com
Email of Submissions: info@wow-lifft.com
_____________________
Ashraf Aboul-Yazid is a renowned Egyptian poet, journalist, novelist, travelogue writer and translator. He is author of around three dozen books and Editor-in-Chief of Silk Road Literature Series.
