The Northern Writers’ Awards closed for entries on 2 February 2017. Huge thanks to the many writers who applied. All applicants should receive a response from New Writing North by 16 June 2017.
Read the list of available awards below to help you decide which award best suits your writing. Remember that unless stated otherwise for a particular award, you may only enter for one category.
Carefully read the eligibility criteria for the award you have chosen to ensure that you can apply for it. The Awards are only open to writers based in the North of England.
Read the entry questions carefully. You may save a draft of your submission in the submissions portal, however, it is highly recommended that you draft your answers offline initially so that you don’t lose any work.
Prepare your synopsis and writing sample carefully so that they are ready to upload. Once submitted, your application can no longer be edited.
Use the Frequently Asked Questions to guide you while you make your application. Most queries will be answered here, but if you can’t find what you’re looking for, please contact us. Our website also includes various resources that may be useful as you construct your application.
Winners will receive awards of between £500 and £5,000 to support them to develop work in progress and to complete promising manuscripts. These awards are open to applications from both emerging and established writers. Winners may also receive membership of the Society of Authors, should they meet the Society’s eligibility criteria.
To enter you should submit between 3,000-6,000 words of a prose extract or three short stories (of up to 2,000 words each). Each submission of work must be accompanied by a synopsis that describes the proposed project.
Winning poets will receive awards of between £500 and £5,000 to support them to develop work in progress and to complete promising collections. These awards are open to applications from both emerging and established poets. To enter poets should submit up to 30 poems or an equivalent amount of longer sequences. Each submission of work must be accompanied by a commentary that describes the proposed project.
The Waterhouse Poetry Award will be offered to one of the winners of the Northern Writers’ Awards at the discretion of the judges. This is not an award that can be directly applied for.
To enter poets should submit up to 30 poems or an equivalent amount of longer sequences. Each submission of work must be accompanied by a commentary that describes the proposed project.
Winners will receive awards of between £500 and £5,000 to support them to develop work in progress and to complete promising manuscripts. These awards are open to applications from both emerging and established writers. Winners may also receive membership of the Society of Authors, should they meet the Society’s eligibility criteria.
To enter you should submit between 3,000-6,000 words of a prose extract or three short stories (of up to 2,000 words each). Each submission of work must be accompanied by a synopsis that describes the proposed project.
In conjunction with The Literary Consultancy we are offering five new novelists the chance to receive an in-depth editorial report on their novel or work in progress, each worth up to £300 each.
These awards support writers to develop work in progress and to complete books. These awards are open to applications from both emerging and established writers.
We especially welcome entries from people who may have faced barriers to seeing their work progress for reasons of social status, disability, ethnicity and/or sexuality. For more information, see https://literaryconsultancy.co.uk/editorial/ace-free-reads-scheme/
To enter writers must submit between 3,000-6,000 words of prose or up to three short stories (of no more than 6,000 words in total).
This year, we are delighted to be partnering with the Poetry School to offer mentoring and professional development to five new poets through the New North Poets Mentoring Scheme. Working closely with lead tutor Clare Pollard participants will receive a year-long mentoring programme focussing on both the craft of writing and the professional skills necessary to a working poet.
To enter for this opportunity, poets should submit up to 30 poems or an equivalent amount of longer sequences. Each submission of work must be accompanied by a commentary that describes the proposed project. You should use your application to explain how you feel your will benefit from this programme and why the time is now right for you to embark upon this kind of commitment. Please read more about the scheme and eligibility requirements here.
This award, worth £2,000 is supported by the friends and family of the late writer and was established in her name. This award is for first-time female writers over the age of 42, the age at which Andrea published her first novel.
To enter writers must submit between 3,000-6,000 words of prose or three short stories (of up to 2,000 words each).
In conjunction with Arvon, we are offering a prose writer the chance to undertake an Arvon course. This may be either a tutored or untutored retreat, depending on what you think will be of most benefit to you. Both children’s writers and writers for adults may apply for this award.
To enter writers must submit between 3,000-6,000 words of prose or three short stories (of up to 2,000 words each).
This award, worth £2,000 is open to writers of fiction and poetry who are either final-year students or recent graduates from any discipline at Northumbria University who are based in the North of England. The award is open to students and graduates from any discipline who are: final-year undergraduates; current postgraduate students or alumni who have graduated from an undergraduate or postgraduate programme at Northumbria University within the last two years (since 2014).
To enter you must submit between 3,000 and 6,000 words of prose or up to 30 poems.
This award, worth £1,000, is supported by the friends and colleagues of Clare Swift and is made in her memory. The award is sponsored by the North East Chamber of Commerce. Please note that this award is only open to writers who live in the North East of England.
The Claire Swift Award will be given to the best unpublished short story submitted (up to 2,000 words).
There are two awards available. The winners will be offered the unique chance to work closely with Lime Pictures through a mentoring placement on the serial drama Hollyoaks. Each bursary is worth £3,000.
No writing experience is necessary. For these awards, we want to discover new writers from Northern England who would like to work in television. We especially welcome submissions from Black and Minority Ethnic, LGBT and disabled writers, who are particularly under-represented in this area of the TV industry.
You will need to prepare up to ten pages of a script (along with a short synopsis) that demonstrates your ability to write strong dialogue. Please also create an original storyline for Hollyoaks of not more than 600 words. You will also need to write a short statement explaining how you would expect to benefit from the award and why the time is right for you to take on the commitment.
Please note you may also apply for the TV Drama Award in addition to this category.
There is one award available. The winner will be offered the unique chance to work closely with Bonafide Films and receive a mentoring placement. The award is worth £3,000.
No writing experience is necessary. For this award, we want to discover new writers from Northern England who would like to work in television. We especially welcome submissions from Black and Minority Ethnic, LGBT and disabled writers, who are particularly under-represented in this area of the TV industry.
You will need to prepare up to ten pages of a script (along with a short synopsis) that demonstrates your ability to write strong dialogue. Please also create an original storyline for the first episode of a new TV drama of not more than 600 words. You will also need to write a short statement explaining how you would expect to benefit from the award and why the time is right for you to take on the commitment.
Please note you may also apply for the Serial Drama Award in addition to this category.
This award of £200 is for a young writer aged 14-18 who is writing poetry, prose or creative non-fiction.
To enter writers must submit up to 2000 words of prose or up to 10 poems.
This award consists of a package of support created by New Writing North and is worth £500. The package will be tailored to the specific interests and needs of the winning young writer, but could include anything from one-on-one mentoring with a professional writer, enrollment on a course, books, theatre tickets or a pass to a literature festival. Nominations for recipients of this award are invited from parents, teachers or other adults.
We require samples of the young writer’s work and a short statement explaining why the young person’s circumstances mean that they lack the opportunities to pursue their talent and therefore need the support.
