The Writers' Award is only open to those who are:
- Over 18 years old
- Currently living in the UK (regardless of immigration status), due to the nature of the prizes and opportunities on offer.
From underrepresented backgrounds—those whose opportunities are limited as a result of:
- Black, Asian, mixed heritage or other global majority background
- Gypsy or Irish Traveler
- Learning disability
- LGBTQIA+
- Mental health challenges
- Neurodivergent
- Physical disability/long-term limiting illness/sensory impairment
- Survivors
- Substance misuse issue
- Working class background
Please choose any and all categories which apply to you when entering. We ask that you self-identify under the above categories and do not ask that you prove your eligibility.
We champion people who are underrepresented in a range of ways, on the assumption that people will use their judgement about the barriers and issues they have faced. We have never turned anyone away as ‘not underrepresented enough.’
...and have not yet published a book, or are under contract for publication this year, in creative non-fiction, fiction/YA or poetry.
- This does not include stories/poems/short pieces published in magazines, journals, anthologies or online
- ...but your entry to the competition must not have been published previously in a magazine, anthology, or online where there is an external selection process (e.g. except on your own blog, website, or social media).
- This does not include self-published books
- It does include poetry pamphlets
- It includes if you intend to enter in a different genre than you've been published in (poetry, fiction or creative non-fiction)
- It does not include academic, technical, cookbooks or children's books or similar.
If you are unsure about your eligibility, please enter and we will contact you if we have any questions if your work is shortlisted. We encourage anyone who is interested to enter the competition.
Employees of Creative Future or our project partners, and past winners, are ineligible to enter.
If you have any questions or concerns about whether you are eligible, feel free to give us a call on 01273 234 780 or by emailing enter@creativefuture.org.uk