The London Library Emerging Writers Programme opens for submissions today for its fifth year. This increasingly influential scheme is geared towards supporting writers at the start of their careers. The Programme is open to anyone, from any background, of any age (at least 16 years and older), who is committed to pursuing a career in writing and wants to develop their work.
The Programme is targeted at emerging writers who have not yet published a full-length work of fiction, non-fiction, a collection of poems, or had a full-length work professionally produced for mainstream film, TV or the stage. The Programme offers writers one year’s membership of The London Library (which normally costs £585 per year) alongside writing development masterclasses, networking opportunities, peer support and guidance in use of the Library’s extensive resources. There is no application fee and participation on the Programme is funded by philanthropic donations.
Since the initiative launched in 2019, it has supported 158 previously unpublished writers. In that time, participants have enjoyed increased awareness for their writing from the publishing industry – many have had first books and poetry collections published, secured publishing deals, and been recognised with awards and other writing successes.
Writers Abi Daré, Amber Medland, Daniel Marc Janes, Anastasia Taylor-Lind, Lianne Dillsworth, Isabelle Baafi, Russell Franklin, Krystle Zara Appiah, Carole Hailey, Marina Gerner, Gaar Adams, Paolo Chianta, Oakley Flanagan, and Natalie Linh Bolderston are just some of the Programme’s participants who have achieved significant success.
The fifth year of the Emerging Writers Programme will run from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.
More details, Application Guidelines, FAQs and the Online Application Form can all be found here.
Deadline: 11am on Thursday 2nd March 2023
Source: BBC Writersroom