In 2018, Spread the Word will be launching a major new initiative – the London Writers Awards.
Our 2015 Writing the Future Report showed that emerging writers from diverse backgrounds face multiple barriers to artistic progression and to being published. To achieve the aspiration of many writers to be agented, published or to have work performed, one of the key parts of development for writers is the need for sustained professional input and quality feedback.
The London Writers Awards, an annual development programme, responds to this need, with the overt objective of increasing the number of talented diverse writers being taken up by agents and publishers.
Who are the London Writers Awards aimed at?
Emerging unpublished London writers aged over 18 with a focus on writers who are currently underrepresented in publishing; BAME, low income, LGBTQ+ and disabled writers, who are writing in one of the Award’s five categories:
* literary fiction (including short stories);
* commercial fiction (e.g. romance, crime, science fiction);
* writing for stage and broadcast media;
* YA/children’s and
* poetry.
What will the London Writers Awards do?
Each year the London Writers Awards will deliver an intensive 10-month development programme of critical writing groups, masterclasses, 1-2-1 professional development coaching sessions and Writer Labs alongside networking opportunities with professional writers and the publishing industry.
30 emerging London-based writers will be selected via open application each year. The development programme is free for the selected writers and bursaries will be available for low-income and/ or disabled writers.
Why London writers?
Spread the Word is London’s writer development agency, helping London’s writers make their mark on the page, the screen and in the world. Spread the Word is part of a network of writer development organisations across England and the UK, who all have different writer development opportunities. Their information is on our FAQs: https://www.spreadtheword.org.uk/faq/
How can you be involved?
If you are a publisher, agent or professional writer and interested in finding out more and potentially becoming a supporter or partner to the Awards, please contact: Ruth Harrison, Director at Spread the Word: [email protected].
If you are a London based emerging writer, please join our mailing list for updates about the London Writers Awards, including when we will be open for applications.
Published 20 November 2017