The London Library Emerging Writers Programme is now open for submissions 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, 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 or 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Since the initiative launched in 2019, it has supported 158 previously unpublished writers.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.
Applicants will be selected anonymously by a panel of judges including screenwriter and playwright Moira Buffini (Harlots, The Dig, Handbagged), non-fiction writer Travis Elborough (Wish You Were Here, Through the Looking Glasses, Atlas of Vanishing Places), novelist and short story writer Zoe Gilbert (Mischief Acts, Folk) and novelist Ayisha Malik (Sofia Khan is Not Obliged, The Movement).
The fifth year of the Emerging Writers Programme will run from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. Applications open at 11am on 11 January 2023 and close at 11am on 2 March 2023.
