London Writers Awards: Thinking of Applying?

Are you thinking of applying to the London Writers Awards?

In this seminar, Spread the Word’s Ruth Harrison and Bobby Nayyar will discuss the structure and successes of the London Writers Awards development programme, including who it’s aimed for, and how to approach drafting your application. There will be time for you to ask questions too. This session is helpful and useful but attending it doesn’t guarantee attendees a place on the London Writers Awards programme.

The London Writers Awards is a 9 month long development programme for writers aged 18+ who are currently living full-time in London, who are from backgrounds underrepresented in publishing. You can find out more about the programme here: https://www.spreadtheword.org.uk/projects/london-writers-awards/

We’ll be opening for applications on 1 October 2021 and closing for applications on 31 October, 11.59pm. Application information will be published on our website on 1 October.

Please note that this event was originally scheduled for 6 October and has been rescheduled for 7 October.

Access Notice 

  • This masterclass is auto-captioned.

  • If you require BSL interpretation to take part, please email us at [email protected] when booking your space and we will try to secure BSL interpretation for you. Spread the Word will cover this cost.

  • All our online events have a relaxed format; you are welcome to take breaks at any point and turn your camera off. All our online sessions have breaks.

  • Our online workshops and events take place on Zoom.  We send weblinks out to participants in the week preceding the event. If you require the dial in phone number, email us [email protected] and we can send it through to you. Please take a look at Zoom’s accessibility info: https://zoom.us/accessibility/faq#faq1

  • If you have additional access needs or questions, please contact us at [email protected]

About Ruth and Bobby

Ruth Harrison


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Ruth Harrison is Spread the Word's Director.

She joined Spread the Word in 2015. Her working life has been in the field of the arts and particularly in literature. She has been Director of Apples and Snakes, a literature development officer and programme manager at The Reading Agency. She is passionate about not only widening people’s engagement with writers and writing but also in developing writing talent. Widening participation and engagement alongside developing and building awareness of new voices has been core to her work.

Ruth has previously been a trustee of Little Green Pig – a charity working to inspire children and young people to get creative with writing, sits on the steering committee for The Literary Platform’s Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize and is part of the team developing EmpathyLab – a start-up using words and stories to build young people’s empathy skills.

At Spread the Word, Ruth is responsible for leading the company artistically and strategically and working with our highly skilled and dedicated team to make a difference to and for writers and their audiences in London.

Contact Ruth at [email protected]

Bobby Nayyar


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Bobby is Programme Manager at Spread the Word.

He studied French and Italian at Cambridge University. In 2005, he became the first recipient of an Arts Council England bursary to train in publishing at Faber and Faber. He went on to join the marketing department at Little, Brown Book Group, rising to manage campaigns for the Virago and Abacus imprints.

In 2009, he founded his own publishing house, Limehouse Books. In 2011, he took on the role of Consultant Development Manager for the Diversity in Publishing Network, helping to establish the Publishing Equalities Charter and transition of Dipnet from Booktrust to City University London, as Equality in Publishing (Equip). More recently he has managed Wasafiri Magazine’s digital presence and taught creative writing in schools in partnership with Eastside Educational Trust and First Story.

Contact Bobby at [email protected]