Open Call: 30th Anniversary LGBTQI+ Emerging Writer Commissions

Spread the Word is pleased to announce that applications are now open for London-based LGBTQI+ writers to apply for our 30th Anniversary LGBTQI+ writer commissions. The deadline for applications is: Tuesday 19 August at 1pm.

The commissions aim to showcase original work by three London based LGBTQI+ writers and provide a developmental and profile-raising opportunity.

Who are the commissions for?

• London based LGBTQI+ emerging writers aged 18+ who are writing poetry, fiction or narrative non-fiction.
• By emerging, we mean writers who are unpublished and unagented, with no literary agent representing them, without an existing book contract with a publisher, and without a previously published full-length work.
• The commissions are for LGBTQI+ writers who are committed to developing their writing and taking forward their writing careers.
• We particularly welcome applications from LGBTIQI+ writers from the following communities: Trans, Black, Asian, Global Majority, disabled and/ or working class.

For full eligibility criteria, please see our Terms and Conditions.

About the commissions

Three writers will be commissioned to create a short original piece of work of fiction, creative non-fiction or poetry. This work can be entirely new or developed from existing work which has not been published.

The commissions have an open brief and there is no theme which the work has to respond to. We encourage writers to be bold with your ideas, to experiment and take risks in your approach to style and content. Your idea can focus on individual interests and creative lines of enquiry that draw on history, look to the future, or focus on the present. Development support will be given to support writers to realise their ideas.

The commission development period will run from end of September to December.

An access fund is in place to make reasonable adjustments.

We are looking to commission writers who can show a clear idea of what they want to do for this piece of work, that is realistic within the timeframe and support available.

Commissioned writers will each receive:

· £1,500 commission fee

· Two sessions with a mentor

· Development support from Spread the Word

· A platform to showcase their work as part of Spread the Word’s 30th Anniversary celebrations

Commissions writers will be expected to:

· Produce an original piece of commissioned writing (prose (1,000 to 1,500 words) or two poems (no longer than 62 lines each))

· Meet project deadlines

· Showcase the commissioned work at a 30th Anniversary sharing event and discuss your work and creative practice

· Support the promotion of the completed commissions

Commission judges

The commissions will be judged by Remi Graves and Liam Konemann.

About Remi Graves

Remi Graves is a poet and drummer. A former Barbican Young Poet, their work has been commissioned by St Paul’s Cathedral, Barbican and BBC Radio 4. They have performed at Tate, Cheltenham Literature festival and more. Remi has led courses at The Poetry School and facilitates in schools and community spaces across London and the South East. Remi’s debut pamphlet with your chest (2022) was published by fourteen poems. They have been selected for residencies with Jan Michalski Foundation and La Napoule Foundation/La Maison Baldwin. Remi is the winner of 2024 Prototype Prize (short form category). Their collection coal was published by Monitor Books in 2025.

About Liam Konemann

Liam Konemann is a writer and editor based in London. He is the author of the non-fiction book The Appendix: Transmasculine Joy in a Transphobic Culture (2021) and a novel, The Arena of the Unwell (2022; both 404 Ink). He currently teaches on writing courses at City Lit and London Metropolitan University.

Commissions timeline:

· Tuesday 19 August at 1pm: Applications close

· w/c 1 September: All applicants are notified with the outcome of their submission

· Wednesday 10 September: Six shortlisted writers invited to short online interview

· From w/c 15 September: Three commissioned writers confirmed and contracted

· September: Mentors confirmed and work on commissions begins

· November: Meetings with mentors and continuing work on commissions

· December: Commissions signed off

· Date to be confirmed: Commissions showcased

Preparing to apply

If it is useful for you, you can view the application form questions and prepare your responses by downloading this draft application form:PDF and Doc version.

How to apply

Please submit your application via this Submittable link.

Deadline for applications: 1pm on Tuesday 19 August

Please note you will need to create a Submittable account to make your application. This is free to do. If you are having any issues with this, please contact: [email protected]

What happens after you’ve applied

We will read every submission and invite up to six writers to a short online interview on Wednesday 10 September.

Who to contact if you have questions

If you have any questions about the commissions and/or access, please contact: [email protected]

Published 21 July 2025