With the onset of the New Year, Nepa~laya is launching an initiative titled ‘25 by 25 in 2025’. As part of this campaign, the publication house has announced its plan to publish three books—spanning the genres of fiction, poetry, and essays—written by Nepali youth aged 25 or below from across the globe.

This initiative invites writers born in the 21st century to reflect on the question, ‘What is the 21st century thinking? What is it writing?’

“Any Nepali, of Nepali origin, or Nepali-speaking youth born after the year 2000 can participate in all three categories,” says Nepa~laya editor Bimal Acharya. “Submissions can be written in any language spoken within the country, including English,” he adds.

Writers can choose any title, topic, style, or tone.

For the essay category, which itself is an open and unrestricted genre, submissions can range from essays, memoirs, travelogues, biographies, profiles, features, monologues, humour, satire, commentary, op-eds, letters, reviews, reflections, imaginations, ideas, dreams, myths, narratives, and more.

The submissions, which must be unpublished and no longer than 2,500 words, must be submitted by February 25, 2025, via Nepa~laya’s website (www.publicationnepalaya.com), where a submission form is available. Works generated using Artificial Intelligence will not be accepted.

Nepa~laya has highlighted that concise, engaging, and straightforward works will have a higher chance of selection over long and heavy compositions.

The entries will be evaluated by a jury comprising Shrawan Mukarung, Bhushita Vasistha, and Narayan Wagle, who will select 25 works from each category. The selected pieces will then be compiled into three separate books for publication in 2025. Each writer featured in the books will be paid royalties according to Nepalaya's policy, and some may even be offered publishing contracts.

The sole eligibility criterion for participation is that the writer must have been born on or after January 1, 2000. Proof of age, such as a photo ID showing the date of birth, must be submitted along with the entries.

“We have always prioritised innovation in our publications and promotions,” says Nepa~laya’s team leader Kirankrishna Shrestha. “This initiative aims to reach potential writers from the younger generation who, for various reasons, haven’t been able to come forward yet.”