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| Last call for 2013's new writing talent in the north | Last call for 2013's new writing talent in the north |
| (8 days later) | |
| Writers across the north of England have just a week left to get their submissions in for the Northern Writers' Awards, the leading talent development scheme for writers in the region. Writers can submit their work in development and hope to win a share of the £40,000 prize fund. | Writers across the north of England have just a week left to get their submissions in for the Northern Writers' Awards, the leading talent development scheme for writers in the region. Writers can submit their work in development and hope to win a share of the £40,000 prize fund. |
| Created in 2000 by the literature development agency New Writing North, the Northern Writers' Awards have this year expanded to embrace writers from the entire north of England, and not just the north east as previously. There's twice as much money in prizes thanks to a new partnership with Northumbria University, and also mentoring, critical feedback, networking opportunities and introductions to agents and publishers. The entry deadline is 5pm on 31 January and submissions must be made online here. | Created in 2000 by the literature development agency New Writing North, the Northern Writers' Awards have this year expanded to embrace writers from the entire north of England, and not just the north east as previously. There's twice as much money in prizes thanks to a new partnership with Northumbria University, and also mentoring, critical feedback, networking opportunities and introductions to agents and publishers. The entry deadline is 5pm on 31 January and submissions must be made online here. |
| Authors of crime fiction, children's novelists, short story, poetry or prose writers are all encouraged to apply. | Authors of crime fiction, children's novelists, short story, poetry or prose writers are all encouraged to apply. |
| At the same time, New Writing North has been at the forefront of fighting against proposed cuts to library services in Newcastle as reported on in the Guardian recently. | At the same time, New Writing North has been at the forefront of fighting against proposed cuts to library services in Newcastle as reported on in the Guardian recently. |
| Claire Malcolm, chief executive of New Writing North, says: | Claire Malcolm, chief executive of New Writing North, says: |
| It's ironic that at the same time as we're lobbying councils and government to re-think drastic cuts to arts and library budgets, both of which will disproportionately affect writers, we're also giving away a big sum of money to support writers achieve their career goals. | It's ironic that at the same time as we're lobbying councils and government to re-think drastic cuts to arts and library budgets, both of which will disproportionately affect writers, we're also giving away a big sum of money to support writers achieve their career goals. |
| We know the difference a relatively small amount of seed money can make to the careers and ambitions of talented new writers, and we're really excited to be able to offer that to a wider group of writers this year for the first time. | We know the difference a relatively small amount of seed money can make to the careers and ambitions of talented new writers, and we're really excited to be able to offer that to a wider group of writers this year for the first time. |
| New and established writers alike are being encouraged to apply for the awards, which are now open to wordsmiths from all over the three northern regions – from Carlisle to Castleford, Leeds to Liverpool and Humberside to Tyneside. | New and established writers alike are being encouraged to apply for the awards, which are now open to wordsmiths from all over the three northern regions – from Carlisle to Castleford, Leeds to Liverpool and Humberside to Tyneside. |
| As a testament to the awards' previous success at developing talented new writers at an early stage of their careers, two major figures of the contemporary northern literary scene have agreed to become patrons of the awards – Yorkshire poet Simon Armitage and the Booker Prize-winning novelist Pat Barker, who is based in Durham. | As a testament to the awards' previous success at developing talented new writers at an early stage of their careers, two major figures of the contemporary northern literary scene have agreed to become patrons of the awards – Yorkshire poet Simon Armitage and the Booker Prize-winning novelist Pat Barker, who is based in Durham. |
| Simon Armitage says: | Simon Armitage says: |
| To an emerging writer, an award of this kind can often be the difference between carrying on and giving up, and can be a huge boost to confidence as well as providing financial backing. Many writers, like myself, can look back to an award or bursary at an early stage in their career as being the pivotal moment, one that gave them the courage and means to continue. | To an emerging writer, an award of this kind can often be the difference between carrying on and giving up, and can be a huge boost to confidence as well as providing financial backing. Many writers, like myself, can look back to an award or bursary at an early stage in their career as being the pivotal moment, one that gave them the courage and means to continue. |
| For new writers, winning a Northern Writers' Award can help them to get noticed by agents and publishers and on to the first rung towards publication. For established writers, the awards can buy time to write to undertake major new projects. | For new writers, winning a Northern Writers' Award can help them to get noticed by agents and publishers and on to the first rung towards publication. For established writers, the awards can buy time to write to undertake major new projects. |
| Winners will follow in the footsteps of Toby Martinez de la Rivas, who was mentored by poet Gillian Allnutt before being selected to be part of Faber and Faber's New Poets project, which included participation in a UK tour and the publication of his first chapbook. | Winners will follow in the footsteps of Toby Martinez de la Rivas, who was mentored by poet Gillian Allnutt before being selected to be part of Faber and Faber's New Poets project, which included participation in a UK tour and the publication of his first chapbook. |
| Other success stories include award-winners Carolyn Jess-Cooke, Mari Hannah and Niel Bushnell, who met their respective agents through the awards and went on to become published writers. | Other success stories include award-winners Carolyn Jess-Cooke, Mari Hannah and Niel Bushnell, who met their respective agents through the awards and went on to become published writers. |
| Olivia Chapman is marketing and communications manager at New Writing North. Full details about the awards are here. | Olivia Chapman is marketing and communications manager at New Writing North. Full details about the awards are here. |
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