The mìsula® Literary Prize

The mìsula® Literary Prize was established as a prestigious cultural competition that every year brings life to the village of Castelluccio Superiore
(Potenza, Italy), a small gem set in the heart of the Mediterranean. The initiative is not limited to celebrating the creative talent of writers but also aims to act as a driving force for cultural, economic, and social growth in the region, breathing new vitality into a community that looks to the future without forgetting its
roots.

The event thus becomes a bridge between tradition and innovation: on the
one hand, it highlights the beauty of a historic village rich in inspiration; on the other, it projects it onto a national and
international stage, welcoming authors, enthusiasts, and visitors who, with their presence, enrich local life. In this way, culture becomes a catalyst for tourism, sustainable development, and a
renewed sense of identity.

The prize is promoted and sponsored by the VOS Foundation, chaired by Ornella Salamone, and is designed to support and encourage young writers, guiding them along a path of growth that extends beyond the competition itself. In addition to artistic recognition, the contest also offers the opportunity to publish, translate, and promote literary works both in Italy and abroad, creating a cultural dialogue that transcends geographical boundaries.

One of the strengths of the mìsula®
Prize lies in its broad thematic freedom: authors can give voice to their stories without restrictions on genre or subject matter, provided the work is written in Italian. Over the years, the competition has welcomed not only authors from across Italy, but also Italians living abroad and foreign nationals who have chosen Italian as their language of expression.

While maintaining a primarily national dimension, the prize aspires to become an international platform, enhancing Italian as a language of culture and promoting, at the same time, a model of hospitality and openness to the world that is typical of Mediterranean villages. The MÌSULA Prize is divided into four categories, designed to highlight
different forms of writing:

  • Section A: Unpublished novel (without ISBN), maximum 300,000 characters including spaces.
  • Section B: Published novel (maximum 300,000 characters including spaces). Self-published works are also accepted.
  • Section C: Unpublished short story (not included in works with ISBN), maximum 35,000 characters including spaces. Reserved for authors over 18.
  • Section D: Unpublished poem (not included in collections with ISBN), free theme, in Italian or dialect, maximum 36 verses.

Through the mìsula® Prize, Castelluccio Superiore reaffirms itself as a cultural laboratory and a living community, capable of transforming writing into an
opportunity for encounter, dialogue, and shared growth. It is proof that even small towns can become protagonists on the literary scene, offering both the public and the authors an experience that enriches all who participate and leaves a lasting mark over time.

All of this is made possible thanks to the support of the VOS Foundation and the strength of the mìsula® brand, which, with its constant commitment, concretely sustains culture and provides emerging writers with the opportunity to
transform their talent into a shared heritage, capable of traveling far beyond the borders of the territory.

"For those who think that an award ceremony of a literary competition is just a pure exercise in cultural rhetoric…well,
let it be known that in reality it is an intense moment of reflections, emotions, and suggestions for life. Something impossible to quantify but essential to feel fully part of the time”. - Alessandro Orofino (writer, artistic director, and president of the jury).

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