Services
Critical Service
The Service
Literature Wales' Critical Service for Writers enables applicants to have their work read and assessed by an experienced writer. Although friends and relatives are often encouraging, a more objective view can help writers to improve their work. Applicants’ readers will produce a report of about 1,000 words which will be critical in the best sense of the term. The reader will be concerned with the literary quality of the work submitted only. Neither applicant nor the reader will know each other’s identity.
The views of the reader are theirs alone and do not represent in any way the opinion of Literature Wales. We reserve the right to return work which would be unlikely at this stage to benefit from the Critical Service.
Eligibility
Literature Wales' Critical Service for Writers is available only to writers living in Wales and writers in the Welsh language.
Plays and screenplays are not eligible for this Service.
How the Critical Service for Writers works
- Complete the form and enclose a short sample of the work.
- Your sample of work should be no more than 200 lines of poetry or 3,000 words of prose.
- Work must be typewritten on one side of a page only with each page numbered.
- Please do not put your name on the manuscript.
- Always keep a copy of what you send: Literature Wales cannot accept responsibility for lost originals.
- Send the completed form, your sample of work and payment to Literature Wales, at the address below.
- The service is available throughout the year. Applicants may use the service once only during any twelve month period.
The Cost
The fee is £10 for each short sample. A more substantial report can be obtained on longer or completed works. The fee for a full novel or auto/biography is £25 for up to 200 pages and £10 for every 100 pages thereafter. Cheques and postal orders should be made payable to: Literature Wales.
How Long will it Take?
For acknowledgement of receipt please enclose a stamped S.A.E. The report will be sent to you within 12 weeks. Please do not phone to check progress within this period.
Click on the relevant W icon in the box below to download the Critical Service guidelines and the Critical Service application form.
To request an application form by e–mail or post, please email your request to post@literaturewales.org quoting a mailing address.
Literature Wales Critical Service For Writers
Literature Wales
Chief Executive: Lleucu Siencyn
Mount Stuart House
Mount Stuart Square
Cardiff CF10 5FQ
tel: 029 2047 2266
fax: 029 2049 2930
Literature Wales is the national company for the development of literature in Wales, and includes Yr Academi Gymreig, the Society for Writers and Ty Newydd Writers' Centre. Registered Charity Number 506402. Literature Wales is supported by the Arts Council of Wales and the Welsh Government.


