Spread the Word

Spread the Word, London’s literature development agency, is delighted to announce the return of the flagship writer development programme the London Writers Awards. Supported through a philanthropic donation by Sam and Rosie Berwick, the London Writers Awards aims to increase the number of writers from underrepresented communities being taken up by agents and publishers. It will run annually for three years, from 2025 to 2027, and will be open to writers of literary, commercial and YA/children’s fiction. Originally launched in 2018, the London Writers Awards is the most successful writer development scheme in the UK supporting writers from underrepresented communities with 50 writers agented and over 35 book deals. It has launched the creative careers of Natasha Brown, Cecile Pin, Tice Cin, Tom Newlands, Pam Williams, Ashani Lewis and Santanu Bhattacharya amongst others. Each year the London Writers Awards will support 24 writers through a ten-month programme of masterclasses, industry days, one-on-one support and critical feedback groups. Built into the programme are active conversations about what it means to be a writer from an underrepresented community entering an industry that remains predominantly white, heteronormative and middle class. With a baseline target of 33%, the Awards aim to actively increase the number of writers on a low income progressing their creative careers through providing an enhanced bursary and access fund offer and remaining free to participate in. The programme provides holistic and on-going creative and career support and community building for writers through its alumni network and developing tutors programme and will be launching a Writers & Readers Salon in Autumn 2024 to showcase published alumni and connect them to readers. Applications will open on Wednesday 25 September at midday and close on Thursday 31 October at 5pm. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eq6jCDyn

Spread the Word is a charity that finds and then develops the creative talents and careers of London’s writers.   We work with writers whose voices are underrepresented in the publishing world and whose stories remain untold without the free support we give to teach the craft of storytelling and then match talented writers with publishers and other people who will pay them to write. We also run creative writing and storytelling projects in local communities and have launched a Young Writers Collective to find the next generation of London Writers.   We celebrate our 30th anniversary in 2025. It’s got us thinking about the next 30 years. We have some big, bold ambitions which include seeing Lewisham launched as London’s first Borough of Literature and setting up a Writers Centre. This will start by doing more work with local people and communities in Lewisham and connecting with the wonderful creative work with words that is already happening in our borough.   As we consider the future, we want to understand whether our current brand is robust enough to support these ambitions. We are open to looking at everything – our mission, vision and values, our look and feel, and our name.   Could you spare 90 minutes to be part of these discussions? By way of a thank you for your time, we will offer a payment of £15 for taking part.    Sessions will take place on 4 June (in-person at Deptford Lounge) and 11 June (online)   Click on the link below to fill out the short survey with your details and we will get back to you. https://lnkd.in/eKxf76Gu    Please respond by 28 May and we will be in touch with the full details. Check out more information on our website: https://lnkd.in/eiyPAHcA Image credit: Kashif Haque

📣 Job opportunity! 📣 Spread the Word is recruiting a Programme and Communications Assistant ✨ Keen to develop your career in the arts and passionate about literature, cultural democracy, and supporting London's writers? We are looking for an enthusiastic Programme and Communications Assistant to provide vital administrative support across our programme of activity in this multifaceted role, as well as working closely with our Communications and Impact Manager to support Spread the Word's print and online communications. Key info about the role: ℹ Salary: £22,400 per year (£28,000 pro rata) ℹ Contract: Part-time, 4 days a week ℹ Apply by 10am, Wednesday 24 April ℹ Round 1 interview Wednesday 8 May & Round 2 interview Wednesday 15 May For more info, including a job information pack & how to apply, please visit our website: https://lnkd.in/eAPY8MQP

Spread the Word is hiring for two roles. Please follow the link below for more details. The deadline for applications is 10am on Monday 18 March.

The Early Career Bursary programme has been featured in The Bookseller 🙌 Another big congratulations to our three winners, A.D. Aaba Aach, Vic Eveline and Sarah Cotton, and a huge thank you to the generous donors Sam and Rosie Berwick who make the programme possible.  A. D. Aaba Atach says: “In the pursuit of an inclusive publishing industry, few organisations actually champion writers on a low income by recognising our talent and contributions to the literary world. Being awarded the Early Career Bursary is not merely a privilege; it’s a sanctuary that nurtures the literary potential of those whose stories were often borrowed and written by others more fortunate. I am immensely grateful to have been given this opportunity to join a supportive community of writers in London and develop my craft to its fullest extent.”

Drum roll please! The 2024 winners of our Early Careers Bursaries are: Vic Eveline, Sarah Cotton & A. D. Aaba Atach. 🎉 The Early Career Bursaries are intended to drive equity in the industry, giving talented writers the time and space to develop their work & progress their career. Monique Roffey, 2024 judge, said: “Judging the Early Career Bursary this year was a huge honour and also very exciting. The standard of the work was off the scale, which made the process bittersweet. Sweet in that almost all the reading was very very pleasurable, and bitter in that it was so very hard to choose our winners. This is an excellent prize and opportunity for any emerging writer and our winners are a stellar cohort. This has been a privilege.” Thank you to all the 2024 judges: Monique Roffey, Patrice Lawrence, and Santanu Bhattacharya. We would also like to thank Sam and Rosie Berwick for continuing to support the programme. Read all about the announcement on our website: https://lnkd.in/e8yaFcPt

📢 Job Opportunities 📢 Come and work with us!    We are hiring two part-time roles:  ⭐ Communications and Impact Manager  ⭐ Programme Manager - Community Engagement   Do you have a passion for engaging people with words and stories? Do you care deeply about diversity, equity and inclusion?    We’d love to hear from you!   Deadline to apply: Monday 18 March.   Find out more about the roles and sign up for our info session:  https://lnkd.in/emrhwu_Y

We’re excited to announce that the #DeptfordLitFest, taking place on 16 March 2024, is now OPEN for booking. Celebrating the creativity and diversity of Deptford and Lewisham through stories, words and performance. Free, BSL-interpreted events for all ages. Our lineup features writers, artists, and organisations generating life-enhancing and thought-provoking conversations, incredible performances, audio tours and interactive workshops. See what’s on: http://bit.ly/DLF2024 Deptford Literature Festival is run by Spread the Word in collaboration with producer Tom MacAndrew. With thanks to our funders and supporters: Arts Council England, TNL Community Fund, ALCS UK.

Young Writers Collective - an opportunity for young Londoners aged 16 - 25 Are you a poet, spoken word artist or writer aged 16-25 and living in London or do you know someone who is? Are you interested in connecting with other young creatives and being part of a new South East London young writers collective who’ll be creating work for the 2024 Deptford Literature Festival? We want to hear from you! Spread the Word is looking for young people to become part of a new Young Writers Collective. If you’re new to writing / poetry or spoken word, or if you already have a bit of experience under your belt, Young Writers Collective is for you! Sign up to take part by Sunday 14 January 2024.  What you’ll get by taking part 🌟 Meet other young people interested in writing 🌟 Learn new techniques to improve your poetry, writing and performance skills  🌟 Become more confident in your voice as a poet, writer or spoken word artist 🌟 Become part of a supportive creative community  🌟 Work with professional writers and get an insight into having a creative career 🌟 Have your voice heard 🌟 Have fun and make new connections  🌟 Have the opportunity to get your voice heard and take part in the 2024 Deptford Literature Festival Who is it for? The Young Writers Collective is for young people who: 🌟 Are interested in creating poetry, spoken word or stories 🌟 Want to get their voices heard about issues that matter to them 🌟 Are just starting out, or are already being creative with words and performance You’ll need to be aged 16-25 and live in London. As we’re based in Deptford in Lewisham, we’re especially interested in young creatives living in Lewisham, Bromley, Greenwich or Southwark becoming involved in the Collective. Who’s involved and what will you be doing?  You’ll be working with amazing writers Remi Graves and Kareem Parkins-Brown to develop your creative work, as well as connecting with other young creatives to decide how you would like to present your work at the Young Writers Collective event at the 2024 Deptford Literature Festival. Access and finances If you need financial support to take part, for example you need your travel costs covering, need funds to buy data to help you make the online sessions, or if you need access support if you have an illness or disability, we’ll be able to support you with what you need to take part. How do I get more info and get involved? Check out: https://lnkd.in/eFURagtb If you’re under 18, we’ll need to have permission from your parents/ carers for you to take part.

Young Writers Collective - an opportunity for young Londoners aged 16 - 25 Are you a poet, spoken word artist or writer aged 16-25 and living in London or do you know someone who is? Are you interested in connecting with other young creatives and being part of a new South East London young writers collective who’ll be creating work for the 2024 Deptford Literature Festival? We want to hear from you! Spread the Word is looking for young people to become part of a new Young Writers Collective. If you’re new to writing / poetry or spoken word, or if you already have a bit of experience under your belt, Young Writers Collective is for you! Sign up to take part by Sunday 14 January 2024.  What you’ll get by taking part 🌟 Meet other young people interested in writing 🌟 Learn new techniques to improve your poetry, writing and performance skills  🌟 Become more confident in your voice as a poet, writer or spoken word artist 🌟 Become part of a supportive creative community  🌟 Work with professional writers and get an insight into having a creative career 🌟 Have your voice heard 🌟 Have fun and make new connections  🌟 Have the opportunity to get your voice heard and take part in the 2024 Deptford Literature Festival Who is it for? The Young Writers Collective is for young people who: 🌟 Are interested in creating poetry, spoken word or stories 🌟 Want to get their voices heard about issues that matter to them 🌟 Are just starting out, or are already being creative with words and performance You’ll need to be aged 16-25 and live in London. As we’re based in Deptford in Lewisham, we’re especially interested in young creatives living in Lewisham, Bromley, Greenwich or Southwark becoming involved in the Collective. Who’s involved and what will you be doing?  You’ll be working with amazing writers Remi Graves and Kareem Parkins-Brown to develop your creative work, as well as connecting with other young creatives to decide how you would like to present your work at the Young Writers Collective event at the 2024 Deptford Literature Festival. Access and finances If you need financial support to take part, for example you need your travel costs covering, need funds to buy data to help you make the online sessions, or if you need access support if you have an illness or disability, we’ll be able to support you with what you need to take part. How do I get more info and get involved? Check out: https://lnkd.in/eFURagtb If you’re under 18, we’ll need to have permission from your parents/ carers for you to take part.