Annual Creative Future Writers’ Awards 2019 opens for entries from under-represented writers
The UK’s only national competition for all under-represented writers opens today (11th February) featuring over £10,000 in cash and writer development prizes.
And this year, there’s a name change. The Creative Future Literary Awards becomes the Creative Future Writers’ Award. Director Jane McMorrow says:
‘We want to make sure it’s really clear the awards are for all kinds of fiction writing not just Literary Fiction; we want to focus on ‘The Writer’ not just the work and, importantly to Creative Future, we want our awards to be accessible to under-represented writers of all ages, especially young writers.’
Multi award-winning author Kerry Hudson will lead a panel of industry experts to find 12 winning poems and short stories. Winners receive a share of £10,000 worth of prizes, both cash and development prizes, from leading literature organisations including The Literary Consultancy, Curtis Brown Creative, Writing Magazine, The Poetry School and Myriad Editions. Winners will also appear in an anthology produced by Jellyfish Solutions, alongside work by Kerry Hudson and guest author, Mahsuda Snaith. All winners will be invited to a high-profile showcase event.
Now in its sixth year, the award is open to all writers whose stories are under-represented in mainstream publishing including those with mental health issues, physical/learning disabilities, neurodiversity, BMER, LGBTQ+ or over 65, as well as those who are homeless or in temporary accommodation, carers, care-leavers, offenders/ex-offenders, survivors of abuse or hail from a working class background.
The theme of the award this year is ‘Home’. Poetry (up to 300 words) and short fiction (up to 2,000 words) should be submitted before the deadline of 11.59pm on Sunday 2nd June 2019.
Kerry says:
‘The Creative Future Writers’ Award is about shining a light on some exceptional voices and talent that might not otherwise be discovered. That’s not just a gift for the writers but for readers and the wider literary community who will gain so much from what these writers have to offer. What makes the Creative Future Writers’ Award really special though, is that it not only seeks out and acknowledges that talent but then invests in helping those individuals develop and hone their craft. I can’t think of anything else like it on the UK landscape and it is a genuine honour to be a part of something so inspiring.’
2018 Bronze Poetry award winner, Lisette Auton, says,
‘The event was so super-duper posh. It really meant something to be given that validation. Also as a disabled writer, and knowing I was there with other under-represented writers, it was a brilliant networking event, and the standard was so high. It was telling the world that we deserve to be on bookshelves.’
Writers can submit via the website (www.literary.creativefuture.org.uk/creative-future-writers-award-how-to-apply) post, or in person. Application forms can be downloaded via the website, by calling 01273 234 780 or via our office at Creative Future, Community Base, 113 Queens Rd, Brighton, BN1 3XG.
There is no entry fee. Full rules can be found on the entry form.
