Books / Writers of Colour
Agency for writers of colour expands to Bristol
In another sign of Bristol’s increasing importance in the modern publishing industry, Words of Colour, a creative communications agency that develops, facilitates and promotes writers of colour, has expanded into the city.
This follows the setting up of The Good Literary Agency by Bristol-based writer Nikesh Shukla and literary agent Julia Kingsford earlier this year, “to increase opportunities for representation for all writers under-represented in mainstream publishing.”
Words of Colour’s work will be curated by their content and events coordinator Heather Marks, who has relocated from the organisation’s London base to Bristol.
is needed now More than ever
Introducing the work Words of Colour has been doing since 2006, Heather says the organisation “aims to facilitate, develop and inspire writers and creatives of colour to fully express their authentic selves, and to develop new and inclusive models of creativity, entrepreneurship and wellbeing to allow their voices and ideas to be heard.
“Writers and creatives are a part of society so a significant driver for us is to reshape the single narrative that misrepresents culturally diverse communities and minimises the importance of intersectionality.
“This is why we believe in cultivating writers, artists and creatives, and developing sustainable relationships (and brands) for social impact, from creating spaces for readers and aspiring writers to engage with emerging and mid-career writers, publishers and agents; developing programmes, masterclasses and events for writers to develop their craft, and campaigning for greater inclusion and more writers and creatives of colour to be visible and successful, with a wider range of stories, on all platforms, that reflect reality.”
Acclaimed author and journalist Gary Younge at a Words of Colour event
On why Words of Colour chose Bristol for expansion, Heather goes on to say: “Bristol is a creative and digital hub, with a rich history, all of which are very attractive to us as a social business, working in creative and digital entrepreneurship.
“We realised there were areas of synergy between what Bristol has to offer as an ethnically and culturally diverse city full of creatives. After 11 years, we believe we can complement what is happening here. We want to bring our ideas, relational approach and services to Bristol to gradually build relationship and form sustainable collaborations so that writers and creatives of colour, and female entrepreneurs, don’t feel like they have to move to London to have a meaningful career.”
Working with independent publishers is a key part of the organisation’s work, as Heather points out: “mainstream publishers…need to be more outward facing and accessible. There are many writers at different stages of their careers, alongside new writers, who still don’t fully understand how publishers operate, what they prioritise, how they ‘look after’ their writers and how they work with agents. That ‘remote’ image needs to be tackled.
“Mainstream publishers can learn a lot from the independents, such as Jacaranda Books, Influx Press, Knights Of and One World Publications, among others. Diversification is key. These are some of the drivers behind our partnership with Jacaranda books and the Twenty in 2020 initiative, where 20 Black British writers will be published in 2020.”
For more information on Words of Colour including the Twenty in 2020 initiative (deadline August 31), visit www.wordsofcolour.co.uk/
Read more: New literary agency for marginalised writers opens in Bristol
Main photo: Reni Eddo Lodge, award winning author of Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People about Race, at a Words of Colour In Conversation event.
Credit for both photos: Lee Townsend
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
