The London Writers Awards are Spread the Word’s new annual development programme for talented London writers. The Awards’ aim is to increase the number of writers from under-represented communities being taken up by agents and publishers.

Each year, the Awards will offer up to 30 writers an intensive nine-month programme of masterclasses, critical feedback groups, WritersLabs, 1-2-1 coaching and networking opportunities.

Eligibility 

The Awards are for: writers of literary fiction (including short stories), commercial fiction (for e.g.: crime, science fiction, romance), narrative non-fiction, YA/children’s (including middle grade and YA fiction, excludes picture books) and poetry, and are focused on supporting London-based writers of colour and working class, LGBTQ and disabled writers.

Bursaries are available to writers who are most in need. An access fund is available to support writers with access requirements.

Deadline

5pm on Friday 22 June 2018 

Writers applying to the Awards will need to complete an online form and submit a sample of either a current work in progress that you want to complete or an extract from a current complete work that you want to develop.

The online form will ask you about: eligibility, your writing life and what your work is about. If you are applying for a bursary and/or the access fund, you’ll be able to tell us about this too. To learn more and to apply please go to https://www.spreadtheword.org.uk/projects/london-writers-awards/