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The Spread the Word Life Writing Prize 2020

Information
Closing date: 
3 February 2020
Entry: 
Open to writers who have yet to publish a full-length work or have a literary agent, living in the UK and aged 18 or over. No entry fee
Prize: 
£1,500, an Arvon course, a writing mentor, two years' membership of the Royal Society of Literature

Kerry Hudson, Nell Stevens and Sathnam Sanghera are to judge Spread the Word

London organisation running creative writing workshops for writers at all stages, with a focus on new writing and live literature, and encouraging innovation and experimentation. www.spreadtheword.org.uk

's 2020 Life Writing Prize. The prize takes place in association with Goldsmiths Writers' Centre and with funding from Joanna Munro, and offers the winner a cheque for £1,500, an Arvon course, a writing mentor, two years' membership of the Royal Society of LiteratureThis British site may seem rather formal (stated aim ‘to sustain and encourage all that is perceived as best whether traditional or experimental in English letters, and to strive for a Catholic appreciation of literature’), but has a lively series of lectures and discussions involving distinguished authors. Also administers literary prizes. http://www.rslit.org/index1.html, and an optional development meeting with an agent and editor. Two highly commended writers receive writing mentors and £500.

Twelve longlisted writers will be invited to read from their work at an event at Foyles Charing Cross Road next June.

Ruth Harrison, director of Spread the Word, said: "The prize shows that life writing is a vital and dynamic literary form with nearly 1,000 submissions being received from across the UK in 2019. We are looking forward to not only supporting and celebrating up and coming writers but also to reading and hearing stories that often go unheard."

Blake Morrison, professor of creative and life writing at Goldsmiths, University of London and patron of the Life Writing Prize, said: "In the era of fake news, life writing has never been more important. Its premise is truth-telling. And it's a way for voices we're not used to hearing - voices from the margins and fringes - to make themselves heard. No literary genre is more democratic. And with democracy under threat, that lends it even more potency."

The Spread the Word Life Writing Prize in association with Goldsmiths Writers' Centre was established in 2016. Open to new and emerging writers living in the UK aged 18 or over, the Prize was established to celebrate and develop life writing in the UK thanks to a generous donation from Joanna Munro. Blake Morrison is Patron of the Prize.

Free to enter, the Prize aims to find the best life writing from emerging writers from across the UK. The Prize defines life writing as ‘intended to be true', reflects someone's own life journey or experiences and is not fiction. The competition is open to writers who have yet to publish a full-length work or have a literary agent.

The 2020 Life Writing Prize 2020 will close on Monday 3 February at 11am.

More details

 

Closing date: 
3 February 2020
Entry: 
Open to writers who have yet to publish a full-length work or have a literary agent, living in the UK and aged 18 or over. No entry fee
Prize: 
£1,500, an Arvon course, a writing mentor, two years' membership of the Royal Society of Literature