Iqbal Hussain, from the pilot London Writers Awards programme in 2018, has won The World of Interiors x Montblanc Writing Competition for his story ‘When the Streets Feel Silent.’
The piece received wonderful praise from the judges, commending its sense of time passing and its ‘moving’ quality.
The piece is included in the November issue of ‘The World of Interiors.’
You can read the full essay here.
class="post-77971 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-news"London Writers Awards Alumna Emma Lowther’s debut cover reveal, and where you can buy it
Emma Lowther took part in the London Writers Awards in 2021. Now, the cover for her debut novel Fellow Creatures, set to be published in May 2026 by Quercus, has been revealed.
Set in an elite drama school, Fellow Creatures is based on the author’s own experiences growing up and at university – Emma trained in performance at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Agent Rachel Neely said that she has a, “voice that captured me from the very first page. I have always loved campus novels but I adore how Emma has brought something fresh to that space with an unusual setting and a brilliantly unsettling protagonist.”
class="post-78041 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-news"Olivia Tuck wins Winchester Poetry Prize 2025
We are delighted to share the news that Olivia Tuck has placed first in the Winchester Poetry Prize 2025 for her poem ‘Child with a Lighthouse.’
Olivia Tuck (Winchester Poetry Prize 2025 winner) says:
“Winning the Winchester Prize has transformed my confidence as a writer. It’s given me such validation and motivated me to get back to my keyboard. More than this, however, I’m immensely proud to have won first prize among so many utterly extraordinary poems written by poets I deeply respect and admire, and to have been given this amazing part in such a special festival: vibrant, warm, and inclusive. What an honour.”
In early 2025, Olivis submitted her poem ‘according to the many who loved her’ to the Disabled Poets Prize and was awarded third prize for the Best Single Poem. The Disabled Poets Prize looks to find the best work created by UK-based deaf and disabled poets.
You can read more about her prize success on the Winchester Poetry Festival website.
class="post-77732 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-opportunities tag-121-feedback tag-writerfeedback tag-ymu-literary"Callout: 1-2-1 feedback for Mystery, Romance and Horror writers from Colwill & Peddle Literary Agency
Spread the Word is pleased to be partnering with the Colwill & Peddle Literary Agency for our latest 1-2-1 feedback opportunity. From Monday 3 November 2025, we will be accepting submissions for:
- Mystery
- Romance
- Horror
Charlotte Colwill and Donna Greaves, literary agents at Colwill & Peddle Literary Agency, are offering a maximum of 8 short feedback sessions for submissions by writers from underrepresented backgrounds based in the UK.
Each agent will be offering up to four 20-minute sessions by phone or video.
What the agents looking for:
Charlotte is looking for romance (YA, adult, crossover and LGBT) including romantasy, crime and thriller including cosy, procedural, and domestic thrillers, and horror of any kinds. I love new twists on old themes, clever concepts, twisty plots, unusual perspectives, and writing that is commercial and full of personality. Above all, a story and characters that really make me feel something.
You can visit Charlotte’s agent page here.
Donna is looking for adult commercial, book club and accessible literary fiction with a mystery at its heart. She is particularly drawn to voice-led narratives, unconventional settings, humour and rich storytelling that interweaves cultural, political or historical context. She will consider crime that fits the bill and possibly fantasy and sci-fi if it has commercial, crossover potential – in other words, books that can be enjoyed by a wide audience.
You can visit Donna’s agent page here.
We define writers from backgrounds under-represented in publishing as those who:
- From a lower socio-economic background as defined by the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion guidance
- Have experienced a lack of academic and/or vocational training opportunities – i.e. have not been able to study/train to their full potential due to low income, ill health, being a carer etc.
- Are or have been a carer
- Have experienced homelessness
- Are a single parent
- Have a disability
- Are Black, Asian, or Global Majority
- Are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community
How to apply
Please note this opportunity is only open to unpublished and un-agented writers based in the UK. Apply via Submittable. Only one entry per applicant will be accepted.
The link to apply is here. We will be open for submissions at midday on Monday 3 November 2025.
To apply, you will need to upload 3 documents:
- A covering letter of 1-2 pages that includes: A little information about yourself and your motivations for your project, how you meet the criteria for this opportunity and a summary of your writing endeavours to date (e.g. Have you taken part in writing development opportunities? Have you mainly been writing on your own at home?)
- A one-page synopsis
- An extract from your project (3,000 words maximum)
If you are a disabled writer, there is the option to submit visual or audio submissions. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you need any support with this.
Charlotte and Donna will be giving feedback on the documents that you submit.
Timeline
- Submissions will open at midday on Monday 3 November 2025
- The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Tuesday 2 December 2025
- Applicants will know the outcome of their submission by Tuesday 3 February 2026 and successful applicants will receive their feedback by the end of April 2026.
If you have any queries about your application or this opportunity, please get in touch with [email protected]
About the Agents
About Charlotte Colwill
Charlotte began her career as a bookseller at shops including Waterstones, Daunt Books and Foyles, before beginning her agenting career at Tibor Jones and Jo Unwin Literary Agency, before launching Colwill & Peddle with Kay Peddle in 2022. She represented a broad range of authors, writing children’s books, genre fiction, and non-fiction, and is always on the lookout for more.
About Donna Greaves
Donna is a literary agent from South East London. She joined Colwill and Peddle in September 2025, prior to this she worked as editorial manager at Jo Unwin Literary Agency. She represents Sunday Times bestselling author Lucy Easthope and is building a list in commercial, book club and accessible literary fiction and narrative non-fiction.
Published: 3 November 2025
class="post-77894 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-deptford-literature-festival-network-knowledge category-opportunities"Deptford Literature Festival 2026 Open Call for Events
We’re seeking London-based writers, poets, artists, arts and community organisations to apply to be part of the 2026 Deptford Literature Festival programme.
Deptford Literature Festival celebrates the diversity and creativity of Deptford and Lewisham through words, stories and performance. Taking place on Saturday 28 March 2026 at various locations around Deptford, the festival will feature performances, readings, workshops and more, with activities led by local writers and creatives.
We have 3 open commissions of up to £750 available to writers, artists, arts and community organisations based in London to deliver activity as part of the festival; with a preference for people and organisations based in Deptford and the borough of Lewisham, or delivering activity with strong connections to Deptford or Lewisham.
Commissions could include: writing workshops, readings, community engagement, performances, talks, walks, participatory sessions, cross-arts activity, local heritage activity, or whatever literature activity you think will connect with our audiences.
The only stipulations are that activity takes place on Saturday 28 March at the festival and is literature-related. We also have a preference toward artists and organisations based in Deptford and Lewisham, and/or for activity with a clear connection to the area.
How to apply
Please send a proposal of no more than 2 sides of A4 OR an audio or video file of no longer than 8 minutes.
The proposal should include:
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Brief information about you/your organisation
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Links to examples of your previous work
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An outline of your idea and how you plan to deliver it
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A brief budget outlining your costs/fees
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Planned location / venue for your activity and whether this is confirmed
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Any technical considerations
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Description of how your activity meets the remit of the festival
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Audience(s) you think will engage with your activity
The Festival will be able to offer:
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Commission fee of up to £750.
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Space at Deptford Lounge to host commissioned activity. This would be free of charge, and not need to be included in your budget. Alternatively, your activity can take place in another location/s in Deptford. If this is the case, please let us know whether you have approached the venue/s to confirm if they’d be willing to participate, and ensure you factor any venue hire costs into your £750 budget.
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Marketing and communications support through the festival’s marketing channels, mailing list and a festival programme.
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Ticketing and booking management.
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Staff/volunteers to support audience management during the event itself.
To submit your proposal, visit spreadtheword.submittable.com/submit/152095/deptford-literature-festival-open-call
You need to create an account on Submittable in order to submit your application. This is free to do.
Deadline: 10am, Monday 1 December
Commissions will be decided by a panel of the festival producers and applicants will hear back by Friday 12 December. The festival producers reserve the right to amend the terms of the open call depending on funds available and other operational considerations.
If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact [email protected]
Previous Festival programmes
If you haven’t attended Deptford Literature Festival before, you might like to take a look at programmes from previous festivals to give you a flavour of what the festival is all about.
class="post-77634 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-london-writers-awards"Q+A with 2026 London Writers Awards Judge – Tom Newlands
Tom Newlands, Literary Fiction Judge for the 2026 London Writers Awards and author of Only Here, Only Now, gives us insight into his writing process and provides advice for applicants of this year’s London Writers Awards. Applications for the awards close at 5pm on Thursday 30 October 2025. For more information head to the London Writers Awards page.
Who or what keeps you writing?
My imagination. I have ADHD, and I am lucky – it has given me a relentless creative engine. I have too many ideas, and it is often a struggle to record and organise them.
What are some of your writing do’s?
My only writing “do” would be to find what works for you! There is a lot of advice out there, much of it passed down from wealthy, able-bodied white men who died a long time ago. The act of sitting down to write takes courage, and it takes even greater courage to do that while disregarding all the well-worn guidance that’s floating around – but that’s what you have to do. There’s only one way, and that’s your own.
And writing don’ts?
It’s obviously important to read as widely as you can, and to learn from the books you love, but don’t waste time trying to imitate other writers.
How does place and identity show up in your work?
It’s central. My stories always begin with a landscape, or a building; usually somewhere I know. I don’t think about characters until I know the place they come from, and how that landscape might have shaped them. Books just now are really overstuffed with wine bars, dog walks, people talking over coffee on anonymous streets. All that is fine, but I want my novels to be filled with people and places that are not usually found in literary fiction, and that are unforgettably vivid.
What advice would you give to emerging writers who feel their backgrounds or perspectives aren’t represented in mainstream publishing?
Being an underrepresented writer you will likely have faced barriers to having your work published, but it can be seen as a great opportunity too. Editors and agents – and above all, readers – are looking to be taken somewhere they’ve never been before, to encounter a life and a voice that is new to them. If your background hasn’t historically been seen on the bookshelves, then now is the time for you to put it there! In terms of attitudes within the publishing industry there is still a long way to go, but things are improving, and there are numerous organisations out there now that can help you towards publication.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about writing and being a writer?
Sitting down a lot is really physically demanding – seriously! Self care, including regular exercise, is so important for both the body and mind.