Spread the Word and Wellcome Collection are delighted to launch the Wellcome Collection Non-Fiction Awards, following a successful pilot programme run in 2022. The new project aims to find and support writers from underrepresented groups, who have a big idea for a non-fiction book for general readers, that engages with the themes of health and being human.
Applications will open on 1 October to 18+, UK-based unpublished and unagented writers who are disabled and/or global majority. Up to six writers will be selected for a nine-month development programme to expand their non-fiction ideas to full-length book proposals. Applications will close at 5pm on Monday 11 November.
Judged by award-winning science journalist and author, Angela Saini and novelist and poet, Daisy Lafarge, the programme will offer each writer a £2,000 bursary, mentoring with an author, five masterclasses on writing non-fiction, insight and industry days and the opportunity to meet with agents. In addition, there will be a public programme of masterclasses and panel events to offer a wider range of support to aspiring non-fiction writers.
Each writer will also be offered one-to-one sessions with Wellcome Collection’s publishing team, research specialists and Stories editorial teams. In addition, aspiring writers can enjoy access to Wellcome Collection’s Library, a free resource with thousands of books, archives and manuscripts exploring personal and cultural relationships with health and medicine. Wellcome Collection will have first refusal on the projects.
Angela Saini said: ‘I’m delighted to be supporting Spread the Word for another year, this time as a judge. It’s vitally important to get voices from the margins into the mainstream, and I’m beyond excited to read the work of this year’s cohort.’
Ruth Harrison, Director of Spread the Word said: ‘We’re delighted to be working again with Wellcome Collection following the hugely successful pilot in 2022. For 2025, we’ll be running an expanded programme with a closer focus on accessibility and integration across Wellcome Collection’s different teams plus a new public programme to support aspiring non-fiction writers from underrepresented communities.’
Fran Barrie, Publisher at Wellcome Collection said: ‘We’re thrilled to be working with Spread the Word again to support more brilliant writers to develop their big ideas on health. We need books that represent the wide diversity of human experiences and perspectives, so we’re working to make the programme as accessible as possible. We can’t wait to get reading this year’s submissions!’
Applications will open on Tuesday 1 October at midday and close on Monday 11 November at 5pm.
The judges are Angela Saini and Daisy Lafarge. Click here to find out more about the judges.
The Wellcome Collection Non-Fiction Awards application pack, which includes Eligibility Criteria, Terms & Conditions and FAQs will be available online from 30 September 2024 in text, BSL video, audio and inclusive read formats. Visit the Wellcome Collection Non-Fiction Awards project page for more details.
A free online information session will be run on Tuesday 8 October, 7pm-8pm, for people considering applying for the Wellcome Collection Non-Fiction Awards. The session will be BSL interpreted. Click here to register for the seminar.
Published: 24 September 2024