It’s been a while but I’ve gathered another crop of writing jobs and opportunities to help you get your writing into the world. I’m sending work for a few on the list so hoping that having deadlines will help words flow. I hope that you’re managing to find time and space to write and if not, it’s ok. Reading, thinking, daydreaming, watching…all writing adjacent. Words will come when they need to.
Because I’ve had such a good response to my reduced price mentoring, I’m keeping it going while I have time and space. And I’ve made a few weekend days available as I know weekdays don’t work for everyone. Sessions cost £25 and last one hour. Once you book, you’ll get a link to my calendar to book. Upcoming dates are:
Saturday 26th September // Sunday 6th October // Monday 14th October // Monday 28th October.
I’m also very excited to be chairing a book event with Katie Hale in person in October. We’ve only met IRL once after spending all that time together online, so I can’t wait for this discussion about her latest novel, The Edge Of Solitude. Join us at Live Theatre in Newcastle if you can. The event is hosted by Opt Indie Books.
Thursday 24th October, 6.30pm, Live Theatre - £8
Writing Jobs and Opportunities
Moniack Mohr Bursary – this ones for emerging Scottish playwrights and offers a bursary to their upcoming Playwriting course. Its for two writers who would otherwise be unable to attend without financial support. No proof of income needed; all the info is in the X post. This one closes tomorrow, 24th September, so move fast!
Writer In Residence – a freelance role with the Edinburgh Book Festival to work engage with young people at The Alternative School. The role of writer is broad and includes so don’t be put off applying, especially if you have experience working with young people. Apply by 27th September.
Moth Nature Writing Prize – this years prize is judged by Cal Flyn and is open to writers over the age of 16. You can enter a single poem or a piece of prose, max 4000 words. Fee is 15 euros (around £12.50), deadline 30th September.
Bridport Memoir Prize – this annual award offers a cash prize with mentoring and support. The fee is large, £24, so if you’re applying, make sure you’ve read all the guidelines. You can submit WIP, but if you’re shortlisted will need up to 30,000 words, so make sure you have this in the works. Deadline is 30th September.
Working Class Creatives Grant – a £500, no strings attached grant from Creative Debuts and The White Pube. Writers of any genre or discipline are encouraged to apply. It’s a rolling deadline but funding is limited so worth a punt if a little cash boost could help your practice.
Interim Festival Director – Hexham Book Festival are looking for a director on a freelance basis for one year. It’s based largely in Hexham, and the only disadvantage is that you’d be working with me! Applications close on 4th October.
Programme Manager – another North East job, this time with New Writing North looking after the Young People and Communities programme. NWN do lots of great work in this area. It’s full-time and based out of the Newcastle office with some hybrid working. Apply by 4th October.
Channel 4 Screenwriting Course – its that time of year when I see this course and panic…because every year I say I’ll apply then I don’t. So this year I am, and you should too. It’s for writers who don’t have a broadcast credit and offers a course with funding and development opportunities. Get your words in by 4th October.
Bath Flash Fiction Award – for writers of tiny tales, this years award is judged by Matt Kendrick who is a brilliant member of the flash community. Entries are £9 and 50 authors are published in the annual anthology. Deadline is 6th October.
Galley Beggar Prize – another one on my to-do list, the annual short story prize is open for entries. You can submit up to 6000 words of fiction. Previous winners are published on the website so have a read to get a feel for what they’re looking for. Entries cost £11, and free low-earner entries are available, though limited so request one soon. No proof of income needed. Send your work by 13th October.
Bloomsbury Mentorship Program – this one’s for debut fiction writers writing for adults across any genre. You’ll get a year long mentorship with Bloomsbury to support your path to publication. Free to enter, deadline is 15th October.
Manchester Cathedral Poetry Competition – poets are invited to submit work on the themes ecopoetry and place. First entry is free, additional entries cost £5 each. Send your best poems by 23rd October.
Quiet Man Dave Prize – a writing prize dedicated to Dave Murray, with prizes for both flash fiction and flash non-fiction. Fee per entry is £5, with sponsored entries available. Send up to 500 words by 25th October.
Scratch A4 Competition – the next round of this competition is open and this time is themed – send a 1000 word piece inspired by a stanza or line from your favourite poem. It’s free to enter, and 6 shortlisted writers will be invited to read their work in London. Deadline 26th October.
Tees Women Poets Chair - TWP are looking for a new Chair. This is a voluntary position for a woman based in Teesside. Applications for the role close on 31st October.
That’s all this time round, hope you find something that gets your writing out into the world. As always, let me know how you get on. Happy writing!
Sarah
Thanks, Sarah, and hello! I too am a North East writer, so a lot of these are relevant and it is very helpful to have them collated in this way. I will come along to the Live Theatre event if I can as Katie’s book sounds fascinating. Warmest wishes, Sophie