Books / Publishing
WriteNow Live: Bristol
After a successful inaugural run last year, Penguin Random House UK, one of the world’s biggest publishing houses, is partnering with South West writing charity Literature Works to launch WriteNow 2017 – a nationwide campaign to find and develop talented new writers from under-represented communities
The project’s aim is to help ensure books and publishing better reflect UK society by finding unpublished writers currently under-represented in books across all genres, including Fiction, Non-Fiction and Children’s. This includes writers from a socio-economically marginalised background, LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer) or BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) writers, or writers with a disability.
The programme will offer aspiring writers access to free regional events in London, Bristol and Newcastle where they will get one-to-one time with editors to receive expert, personalised feedback on their book, alongside access to literary agents and published authors, including Elif Shafak, Kit de Waal, Afua Hirsch and Fox Fisher.
is needed now More than ever
Applications to attend the regional events are open and will close on July 16. From those applications 50 writers will be invited to attend the Bristol WriteNow 2017 day on Saturday September 16 at Watershed. From there ten writers will go on to be selected for a year of mentoring and working with Penguin Random House editors. The ultimate ambition is to publish these new writers.
The Watershed event on Saturday September 16 will run from 10.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m.
Tom Weldon, CEO, Penguin Random House UK, says: “We are determined to publish a wider range of voices and books to more fully reflect the diverse society we live in.
“As the UK’s number one publisher, our job is to tell the stories which aren’t often told. That’s why with WriteNow we are taking our teams outside of London and into communities to meet and mentor aspiring authors. We want to find and bring to life writing that connects with all readers, bringing the best new under-represented voices to bookshelves.”
Bristol writer, Nikesh Shukla, says: “WriteNow was a great opportunity for marginalised writers to be in a room with their peers, writers they respect and editors willing to offer them feedback. Sometimes this is all you need to show you that you can be a writer and you deserve success – being in the room. Well done WriteNow for inviting people into the room.”
For full details and how to apply please visit: http://www.write-now.live/.
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