Spread the Word, London’s literature development agency, is delighted to announce the return of the flagship writer development programme the London Writers Awards. Supported through a philanthropic donation by Sam and Rosie Berwick, the London Writers Awards aims to increase the number of writers from underrepresented communities being taken up by agents and publishers. It will run annually for three years, from 2025 to 2027, and will be open to writers of literary, commercial and YA/children’s fiction.
Originally launched in 2018, the London Writers Awards is the most successful writer development scheme in the UK supporting writers from underrepresented communities with 50 writers agented and over 35 book deals. It has launched the creative careers of Natasha Brown, Cecile Pin, Tice Cin, Tom Newlands, Pam Williams, Ashani Lewis and Santanu Bhattacharya amongst others.
Each year the London Writers Awards will support 24 writers through a ten-month programme of masterclasses, industry days, one-on-one support and critical feedback groups. Built into the programme are active conversations about what it means to be a writer from an underrepresented community entering an industry that remains predominantly white, heteronormative and middle class. With a baseline target of 33%, the Awards aim to actively increase the number of writers on a low income progressing their creative careers through providing an enhanced bursary and access fund offer and remaining free to participate in. The programme provides holistic and on-going creative and career support and community building for writers through its alumni network and developing tutors programme and will be launching a Writers & Readers Salon in Autumn 2024 to showcase published alumni and connect them to readers.
Ruth Harrison, Director of Spread the Word says: “The progress made in 2020 to support writers from diverse backgrounds has stalled with the most recent data suggesting that the industry is not backing black writers to the same levels of the pandemic years and in some cases, such as children’s books, representation of ethnic minorities has fallen. For four years the London Writers Awards gave high quality, sustained support to 120 writers and launched the careers of a multitude of writers. We’re delighted to bring the programme back for another three years, as we look to consolidate the programme’s position as the leading development programme in the UK.”
Sam Berwick, programme donor says: “Rosie and I have had the great fortune to have worked with Spread the Word for the past two years, and we can’t say strongly enough what a great experience that has been. Being able to help them bring back such a critical project as the London Writers Award is now a huge privilege for us. The arts are more important than ever in defining who we are and what we will become as human beings. And yet, as the cost of living crisis continues and governments and others cut back on their funding of the arts, many of those that create this art and literature find themselves unable to find the time and space to do so. We look forward to helping Spread the Word to help writers in this position and we would kindly call strongly and hopefully persuasively for both individuals and foundations to join us in further helping them and similar organisations in growing projects like the London Writers Awards.”
Applications will open on Wednesday 25 September at midday and close on Thursday 31 October at 5pm.
The author judges are Nilesha Chauvet, Oisín McKenna, Jyoti Patel and Tọlá Okogwu. The industry judges are Cara Lee Simpson (Susanna Lea Associates), Emma Leong (Janklow and Nesbit), Lorna Hemingway (Bell Lomax Moreton) and Oli Munson (AM Heath). Click here to find out more about the judges.
The London Writers Awards application pack, which includes Eligibility Criteria, Terms & Conditions and FAQs will be available online from 23 September 2024 in text, BSL video, audio and inclusive read formats. Visit the London Writers Awards project page for more details.
A free online information session will be run on Tuesday 1 October, 7pm-8pm, for people considering applying for the London Writers Awards. The session will be BSL interpreted. Click here to register for the seminar.
Spread the Word will also be launching a Writers & Readers Salon featuring London Writers Awards alumni. The first event will be on Thursday 7 November at The Africa Centre. Click here to purchase a ticket for the event.
Published: 11 September 2024