Look North

The 2021 Northern Writers Awards from New Writing North are open for entries from writers based in the

North of England.

The Awards are given to support work in progress by new, emerging and established writers, enabling them to develop work towards publication and progress professionally. The

Awards are supported by Northumbria

University, Arts Council England and a variety of publishing and media partners.

The 2021 Northern Writers Awards are:

• The Hachette Children’s Novel Award for debut writers of middle grade and YA fiction. The winner will receive a publishing contract with Hachette and £5,000. Submit a writing sample between 3,00 and 6,000 words and a synopsis up to 600 words.

• Northern Writers’ Awards for Poetry: Winners will receive between £2,000 and £5,000 to enable them to develop work in progress and complete collections. Submit up to thirty poems and a commentary up to 600 words that describes the proposed project. The judge is Andrew McMillan.

• Northern Debut Awards: Poetry. Winning poets will win a package of developmental support and a £2,000 bursary. Submit up to thirty poems and a 600-word commentary. The judge is Andrew McMillan.

• Northern Writers’ Awards for Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction: Winners will receive awards between £2,000 and £5,000 to develop works in progress and complete manuscripts. Submit a writing sample between 3,000 and 6,000 words and a commentary up to 600 words on the project. The judges are Cathy Rentzenbrick and Jacob Ross.

• Northern Debut Awards: Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction: Four writers who have not yet published a full-length work will be offered a package of developmental support that includes a £2,000 bursary. One award will be made in the name of Andrea Badenoch and will be awarded to writers over 42 who self-identify as women or non-binary. Submit a sample between 3,000 and 6,000 words and a 600-word commentary.

• The Sid Chaplin Award is for writers of fiction and narrative non-fiction who identify as originating from a working class background. The winner will receive a development package including a £2,000 bursary and a week-long writing retreat at Calder Cottage. Submit a sample of 3,000 to 6,000 words.

• TLC Free Reads, awarded to three poets, prose writers and children’s writers. Submit 3,000 to 6,000 words and a 600-word proposal.

• The Arvon Award offers one prose writer an Arvon course. Submit 3,000-6,000 words and a 600-word proposal.

•The Northumbria University Student and Alumni Award: £2,000 to a final-year student or recent graduate of Northumbria.

• Channel 4 Writing for Television Awards – Lime Pictures: £3,000 and a placement on Hollyoaks. Submit an outline of an original storyline and a sample script up to ten pages.

• Channel 4 Writing for Television Awards – Bonafide Films: £3,000 and a mentoring placement. Submit an outline of an original TV drama storyline and a sample script up to ten pages.

• Word Factory Apprentice Award for short story writers: £1,000 and mentoring.

• Young Northern Writer Award for writers aged 18 and under. £150 for winners in two age categories.

• Matthew Hale Award for promising young writers who lack opportunity to pursue their talent: package of support and £500.

The closing date is 18 February.

Website: http://northernwritersawards.com/