WriteNow is publisher Penguin’s programme to find, nurture and publish writers and illustrators from communities under-represented on the UK’s bookshelves.
This includes (but is not isolated to) writers from BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) or LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer) communities, those who have a disability, or come from a socio-economically marginalised background. When applying writers are given the opportunity to say why they feel that their voice has been under-represented in books and publishing.
The programme is open to writers in all genres, including fiction and non-fiction, adult and children’s. You must be at least 18 years old and be resident in the UK or the Republic of Ireland. You must submit your manuscript in English.
To apply, submit 1,000 words from your book before midnight on Sunday 26 April, along with a brief synopsis. Following the application process, a total of 150 writers will be invited to free workshops in London, Glasgow, Belfast and Cardiff to learn more about how to get published (dates tentatively in for June, they may reschedule depending on Coronavirus).
Of those 150 writers, 10 of the most talented will be invited to join the WriteNow programme, where they will each work with one of Penguin’s editors (with special expertise in their genre) to develop their manuscript over the course of a year. So far six books have been published through WriteNow, with a further eight due to be published in 2020.
Find out full details on the Penguin website
Deadline: 26 April 2020
Source: BBC Writersroom