To celebrate our 30th anniversary next year, Spread the Word are commissioning six London-based writers across two categories to create new writing. We’re excited to share with you the six chosen writers.
30th Anniversary Emerging Writer Commissions
The Emerging Writer Commissions were open to unagented and unpublished writers from underrepresented backgrounds.
The commissions have been awarded to: Giselle Cory, Eliezer Gore and Naomi Walsh. These commissions were judged by Olumide Popoola and Joelle Taylor.
Judge Joelle Taylor said about the entries: “Choosing these shortlisted writers was a tough decision as we had such outstanding entries for the commission. But also, it was an easy decision, as these three writers brought such energy and excitement with them; as well as exceptional writing. I can’t wait to see how they develop across the programme, and to read the work they produce”
The 30th Anniversary Emerging Writer Commissions are generously supported by The London Community Foundation and Cockayne – Grants for the Arts.
30th Anniversary Deaf and Disabled Writer Commissions
The Deaf and Disabled Writer Commissions were open to writers facing disablist and/ or audist barriers.
The commissions have been awarded to Oli Isaac, Jamila Prowse and Ellie Spirrett. These commissions were judged by Ayesha Chouglay and Joe Rizzo Naudi.
Both commissions have an open brief and there is no theme which the work has to respond to. Instead, our selected writers are invited to be bold with their ideas, to experiment and take risks in their approach to style and content. The six commissioned writers are being matched with a mentor to work with on the short stories and poems they are writing, as well as to develop their writing careers. The finished pieces will be unveiled at Deptford Literature Festival in March 2025.
About the Writers selected for the Emerging Writers Commissions
Giselle Cory
Giselle focuses on life writing, in particular how the small acts of life add up to our identity or come into conflict with it. They particularly enjoy work that tries to understand social history through the lens of personal experience. Recent favourite authors include Claire Keegan, Caleb Azumah Nelson, Maggie Nelson and Guadaulpe Nettel. Giselle splits her time between writing and a career in the charity sector, most recently leading a small charity.
Giselle said; “I can’t believe someone is commissioning me to write! This will be my first commission and publication, and it feels really good to be engaged as a writer in this way. I hope that being on the programme will help me better situate myself as a writer, build my confidence and most importantly, produce some work I’m proud of. I’m particularly excited for the mentoring element, and look forward to working with an experienced writer who can help me take the work from draft to fully formed thing.”
Eliezer Gore
Eliezer Gore is a Zimbabwean-born artist who was raised in Lewisham. Through his art transforms concrete reality unveiling magical surrealist landscapes to deliver joyous affirming narratives.This year he staged an extract of his Debut Play “Return to Soil” at the Catford broadway for Lewisham Youth Theatre’s Hatch Festival. He is the 2024 Roundhouse poetry slam runner up, Born:: Free Writers Collective Alum and a Soho Writers Lab alum.
Eliezer said; “I’m looking forward to stretching my story telling ability by weaving a narrative across a series of poems.”
Naomi Walsh
Naomi is a writer and creative based in SE London. Born and raised in Barnsley (South Yorkshire) to parents hailing from Sierra Leone and Liverpool, she likes to explore identity, mixing, sonder, and (be)longing in her work. After reading English at the University of Leeds, she spent 7 years working full time as a PR manager in London, earning a PR Week 30 Under 30 award, before going freelance in 2024 to pursue her writing.
About the writers selected for the Deaf and Disabled Writers Commissions
Oli Isaac
Oli is a writer based in London. Their passion for writing stems from growing up with a severe stutter and experiencing how language can fail us. Currently, Oli is developing their debut audio play as a recipient of Audible Theatre’s Emerging Playwrights Fund. They also teach poetry workshops, most recently with The Learning Cooperative. In 2024, Oli won the Verve Poetry Festival Competition.
Ollie said; “I am so honoured to have been selected by Spread The Word for this writer’s commission. I am grateful that they took a chance to support this writing proposal, given that neither I nor them really know how the project is going to end up. That level of trust and confidence is deeply heartening. I will spend the winter writing and experimenting with reflective, non-fiction essays, each one anchored by my local community garden in South East London. Non-fiction essays are an expansion of my current writing practice, but it is one I’ve been keen to move towards and test out. In poetry, I can often hide meaning between layers; in plays, I can build entirely new worlds. However, I’ve always deeply admired writers who seamlessly blend the personal, the philosophical, the poetic in their essays. It’s a challenge but one I am so excited to embrace, particularly with the one-on-one support and guidance of a writing mentor, and the help of Spread The Word throughout it all.”
Jamila Prowse
Jamila Prowse is an artist and writer, propelled by curiosity and a desire to understand herself. Informed by her lived experience of disability and mixed race ancestry, her work is research driven and indebted to Black feminist and crip scholars. She is an active participant in a rich and growing contemporary disabled artistic community and has been ongoingly researching, programming and creating around cripping the art world since 2018. Her writing has appeared in Frieze, Art Monthly and elsewhere.
Jamila said; “I’m extremely grateful and excited to be selected for the Spread the Word Deaf and Disabled Writers Commission. The opportunity comes at a time when I’ve had to rethink my practice in relation to an exacerbation in my disability and being signed off on long-term sick leave. It also marks the first time I’ve had dedicated professional development support around my writing. Doing so with the support and collaboration of disabled writers who inherently understand the unique barriers of living and working in an ableist world, means I feel uniquely understood and encouraged to find my way back to the process of writing, a form I’ve always returned to in order to better understand myself and my place in the world.”
Ellie Spirrett
Ellie is a poet, originally from Leeds, who started performing in Leicester and now lives in Greenwich. Ellie was a member of the Roundhouse collective in 2023/2024 and is now part of the Spread the Word Young Writers Collective. She writes about disability and ableism, chronic illness and the loneliness epidemic.
Ellie said; “I’ve never done anything like this before so I’m excited, nervous and proud. It’s great to be working somewhere where my disability is recognised and celebrated as part of what makes me me. I’m so excited to see where this takes me next as a writer.”
class="post-71008 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-opportunities"Announcing Deptford Literature Festival 2025 – save the date!
Announcing Deptford Literature Festival 2025 – save the date!
Deptford Literature Festival is coming back! The next festival will take place from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 March 2025.
Run by Spread the Word in collaboration with independent creative producer Tom MacAndrew, Deptford Literature Festival celebrates the diversity and creativity of Deptford and Lewisham through words, stories and performance, with the local community and accessibility at its heart.
Alongside a rich programme featuring emerging and established writers, performers and publishers from Deptford and Lewisham, there are a number of specially commissioned pieces of writing that will be published and distributed in our Festival Magazine. Winners of the Disabled Poets Prize will be announced, and the Young Writers Collective will perform. You’ll be able to meet the Advisory Group for the campaign to make Lewisham the UK’s first Borough of Literature, which was launched at the 2024 festival, and share your ideas on what a Borough of Literature could look like. The advisory group, chaired by Aimée Felone, includes celebrated local authors and local residents of Lewisham. There’s still time to join the group – applications close on Monday 11 November.
Deptford Literature Festival is a festival for our local community with events for adults and children of all ages. For those who can’t come in person, there will be a range of activities and events that you can take part in from home. If you are interested in stories, writing or reading, or just curious about the vibrant literary scene in Lewisham, you’ll want to save the date in your diary.
The following opportunities connected to the festival are currently open:
- We are looking for three to five local artists, writers, arts or literature organisations to propose events to add to this year’s festival programme. Each chosen event will have a budget of up to £750 to bring their idea to life. The open call, launched today, will close on Friday 29 November.
- Three pieces of new writing are being commissioned as part of our Borough of Literature campaign. All three pieces will be published in the Festival Magazine and distributed on Saturday 29 March for free to festival visitors. The open call for proposals, launched today, will close on Friday 29 November.
- The Disabled Poets Prize is open for applications until Monday 4 November. The winner of the prize, which looks to find the best single poem and best unpublished pamphlet created by UK-based deaf and disabled poets, will be announced at Deptford Literature Festival on Saturday 29 March.
The full programme will be announced and events open for bookings in mid-January.
We’re looking forward to seeing you at next year’s festival. If you are able and would like to support the festival continuing to be free and accessible, please donate here: https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/deptfordlitfest
Published: 29 October 2024
class="post-70918 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-opportunities"Deptford Literature Festival 2025 Open Call for Events
We’re seeking London-based writers, poets, artists, arts and community organisations to apply to be part of the 2025 Deptford Literature Festival programme.
Deptford Literature Festival celebrates the diversity and creativity of Deptford and Lewisham through words, stories and performance. We are looking for three to five events to add to the Deptford Literature Festival Programme, created by writers, poets, artists, and arts/community organisations based in London, with a preference towards those based in Deptford and the borough of Lewisham, and/or delivering activity with clear connections to the area.
Each chosen event or activity will have access to up to £750 to make their event happen.
These activities could include: writing workshops, readings, community engagement, performances, talks, walks, participatory sessions, cross-arts activity, local heritage activity, or any literature-related activity that you think will connect with our audiences.
The only stipulations for your activity are that:
- it takes place on Saturday 29 March 2025 as part of the Deptford Literature Festival, and
- is literature based.
We have a strong preference toward artists and organisations based in Deptford and Lewisham, and/or for activity with a clear connection to the area.
The festival will be able to offer:
- Space at Deptford Lounge to host commissioned activity, if needed,
- Marketing and communications support through Spread the Word’s marketing channels, mailing list and a festival flyer, and
- BSL interpreters for your event.
Previous Festival programmes
If you haven’t attended Deptford Literature Festival before, you might like to take a look at programmes from previous festivals to give you a flavour of what the festival is all about.
How to apply
To apply, please follow the link below to submit a proposal of no more than 2 sides of A4, OR an audio or video file of no longer than 8 minutes. The proposal should include:
- Brief information about you/ your organisation,
- Links to examples of your previous work,
- An outline of your idea and how you plan to deliver it,
- A brief budget outlining your costs/ fees,
- Planned location/ venue for your activity and whether this is confirmed (see note below),
- Any technical considerations,
- Description of how your activity meets the remit of the festival, and
- Audience(s) you think will engage with your activity.
Please note we can offer space at Deptford Lounge to host commissioned activity. Alternatively, your activity can take place at other locations in Deptford. Please state in your proposal the planned location. If you are not planning on using Deptford Lounge, please let us know whether you have approached the venue(s) to confirm if they’d be willing to participate, and ensure that you factor any venue hire costs into your budget.
To submit your proposal, visit spreadtheword.submittable.com/submit
You need to create an account on Submittable in order to submit your application. This is free to do.
The deadline for applications is 10am on Friday 29 November 2024.
Applicants will learn whether their application has been successful by Friday 6 December.
Commissions will be decided by a panel of the festival producers. The festival producers reserve the right to amend the terms of the open call depending on funds available and other operational considerations. If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact [email protected]
class="post-71084 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-opportunities"Lewisham, Borough of Literature Commissions – To All The Places I have Read
Spread the Word is pleased to announce that applications are now open for Lewisham-based writers, poets and spoken word artists to apply for the Lewisham, Borough of Literature Commissions – To All the Places I Have Read.
The Commissions support the campaign to make Lewisham the UK’s first Borough of Literature.
Deadline for applications: Friday 29 November, 10am
Who are the commissions for?
Three writers of poetry or short stories who are aged 18+ and currently living in Lewisham.
Writers should be from underrepresented backgrounds. By this we mean:
- Black, Asian, or Global Majority
- D/deaf and/ or Disabled
- LGBTQIA+
- Having had a Working Class upbringing
- On a low income (i.e. writers whose income is through benefits or paid on or below the London Living Wage hourly rate, and whose savings do not exceed the amount needed to pay for three months of living costs (rent, gas and electricity, food etc.)
- Care experienced
One of the commissions will be for an early stage writer who is unpublished and unagented. By this we mean:
- You do not currently have a literary agent representing you
- You do not have an existing book contract with a publisher
- You have not previously published a full-length work (i.e. a work of fiction or non-fiction over 30,000 words, or ten or more short stories published either in a collection or individually, or twenty or more poems either in a collection or published individually, or a full-length theatre script, screenplay, or radio play that has been professionally produced and/or broadcast)
- Previously self-published writers can apply with a currently unpublished work.
For full eligibility criteria, please see our Terms-and-Conditions, also available as a Word document.
About the commissions
Three writers will be commissioned to create either an original short story (1,000-1,500) or two original poems (no longer than 62 lines each) on the To All the Places I have Read. This work must be entirely new, rather than a development of pre-existing work.
We are seeking writers to create an evocative poem or short story inspired by the unique stories and atmospheres found within, for example, Lewisham’s local green spaces, cafes, libraries, community spaces and restaurants. The work will reflect the diverse experiences and voices of our community, capturing the essence of these gathering spaces and their significance in daily life.
The commissioned poems or short story should intertwine the collected narratives and ambiance of each location. The piece should evoke the character of each place/ establishment while highlighting common threads of community, connection and the power of stories.
The commissions will be shared in the Deptford Literature Festival 2025 Magazine. Commissioned writers will read their work at a Lewisham, Borough of Literature event as part of the Festival on Saturday 29 March 2025. The event will promote the importance of these gathering spaces and the stories they hold.
Development support will be given to support writers to realise their ideas.
An access fund is in place to make reasonable adjustments for writers who require this.
The commission development period will run from December 2024 to February 2025.
We are looking to commission writers who can show a clear idea of what they want to do for this piece of work, that is realistic to deliver within the timeframe and resources available.
Commissioned writers will each receive:
- £1,500 commission fee
- Development support from Spread the Word
- Publication of their work in the Deptford Literature Festival Magazine
- A platform to showcase their work to an audience at Deptford Literature Festival and online as part of the Lewisham Borough of Literature campaign.
Commissioned writers will be expected to:
- Produce a new piece of commissioned writing (short story (1,000-1,500) or two poems (no longer than 62 lines each))
- Meet project deadlines, including a deadline for print publication
- Showcase the commissioned work at an event as part of the 2025 Deptford Literature Festival on Saturday 29 March 2025
- Take part in a Lewisham, Borough of Literature panel discussion as part of the Festival about your work and creative practice
- Support the promotion of the completed commissions and the Lewisham, Borough of Literature Campaign.
Commissions timeline
Friday 29 November, 10am – Applications close
By Wednesday 4 December – All applicants are notified with the outcome of their submission
Monday 9 December– Shortlisted writers are invited to short online interview
Saturday 29 March – Commissions launched at the Deptford Literature Festival
Preparing to apply
If it is useful for you, you can view the application form questions and prepare your responses by downloading this drafting form.
How to apply
Please submit your application via Submittable at: spreadtheword.submittable.com/submit
Written, video or audio responses can be given to any narrative questions. You will need to submit a sample of your work in written English.
Please note you will need to create a Submittable account to make your online application. This is free to do. If you are having any issues with this, please contact: [email protected]
Deadline for applications: Friday 29 November, 10am
What happens after you’ve applied
We will read every submission and invite up to six writers to a short online interview with Spread the Word on Monday 9 December.
Who to contact if you have questions
If you have any questions about the commissions or about access, please contact: Courtney at Spread the Word, [email protected]
class="post-71019 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-opportunities"Borough of Literature Public Meetings
Borough of Literature Public Meetings
A series of four public meetings will bring together different interest groups in Lewisham around our campaign to make the borough the UK’s first ever Borough of Literature.
These meetings are to inform the community about the campaign, as well as to generate ideas for what a Borough of Literature could look like in Lewisham. Four public meetings will inform a funding bid to generate the income we need to bring the Borough of Literature to life. Together we will develop an exciting plan for a borough of Literature that funders cannot resist. Our hope is that we can also help to connect leaders, educators, creatives and community organisers from across the borough, supporting a a vibrant literary community in Lewisham.
Who are they for?
Our first meeting on Thursday 28 November aims to bring together local arts and literature organisations, writers, poets, artists and activists.
Future meetings will seek to bring together educators, local businesses, young people and grassroots community groups to influence the shape of the UK’s first Borough of Literature.
If you live or work in Lewisham, we’d love to see you there.
About the Borough of Literature
Spread the Word has a big, bold vision to see Lewisham declared as the UK’s first Borough of Literature. Lewisham is rich with word-related creative activities and is home to some of London’s best new writers and famous authors, as well as many arts charities working with words, stories, and poetry, and many more that include creative writing, publishing, spoken word and other art forms like filmmaking and music.
class="post-70896 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-blogs category-wellcome-collection-non-fiction-awards"Non-Fiction on Health and Being Human by Fran Barrie and Ellen Johl of Wellcome Collection
The Wellcome Collection Non-Fiction Awards is a writer development programme for non-fiction on health and being human. It is open for applications until 11 November. Find more information and find out if you’re eligible to apply on the awards page.
Non-Fiction on Health and Being Human by Fran Barrie and Ellen Johl of Wellcome Collection
Non-fiction that touches on health comes in many guises, from memoir and reportage, to history and popular science. There are also many healthcare workers who are brilliant writers, including Atul Gawande, Siddhartha Mukherjee, Rachel Clarke, David Nott, Christie Watson, Leah Hazard, Gavin Francis – to name just a few. Here are a handful of the books that have inspired Wellcome Collection’s Fran and Ellen.
Unwell Women by Elinor Cleghorn
This is such an urgent and essential book, meticulously researched and beautifully written. It exposes how medicine has misdiagnosed women’s bodies and minimised women’s pain, how misogyny and myth have shaped women’s health, and the long-standing biases that endure. It was inspired by the author’s own experience of being ignored and dismissed by doctors, and she combines this deeply felt rage with incredible rigour and research.
The Outrun by Amy Liptrot
Amy Liptrot’s debut has recently been made into a film featuring Saoirse Ronan and it’s well worth revisiting the book. It’s a dazzling memoir, set between the wilds of Orkney and the hedonism of London, tracing Amy’s recovery from alcoholism and her father’s mental health struggles. A raw, visceral and life-affirming read, full of nature, wild swimming, dark and light.
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
A page-turning, frequently shocking exposé of the Sackler family and their roles in the opioid crisis, and the global epidemic of painkiller addiction. A brilliant example of important reporting and journalism, combined with masterful storytelling and pace.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
A classic. It tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, an African-American tobacco farmer, alongside the story of HeLa: her cancer cells, which were taken without her knowledge or consent, and which led to major medical breakthroughs (and made millions of dollars for other people). It’s a moving, haunting read about medicine, race, class, ethics, money, exploitation – and who owns our bodies.
Divided by Dr Annabel Sowemimo
Annabel is a sexual health doctor and an incredible activist who founded the community-based organisation, Reproductive Justice Initiative. Her searing debut explores how racism and colonialism have shaped science and medicine – and firmly reinserts the stories of Black and Indigenous scientists and doctors into the historical narrative.
Disability Visibility edited by Alice Wong
This anthology is a call to arms that showcases the diversity and nuance of disability through many different stories and perspectives. It’s brought together into a galvanising whole by leading activist, writer and organiser Alice Wong.
The Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde
We could have included several works by the great Audre Lorde on this list. Her writing is a thrilling fusion of the personal, political and poetic. This is her intimate and searching account of having breast cancer. It’s full of wisdom and fire.
Fran Barrie and Ellen Johl make up the books team at Wellcome Collection, working in close partnership with Profile Books to publish vital non-fiction on health – including works by Dr Gavin Francis, Emma Dabiri, Elif Shafak, Jack Hartnell, Susie Orbach and Daniel Tammet.
Published: 23 October 2024