Opportunities
Welcome to Literature Wales’ opportunities page where we share internal and external literary opportunities, from competitions to residencies, from Wales and beyond. If you have any opportunities you’d like us to feature, please email us on: post@literaturewales.org
Work Opportunities
Tŷ Cerdd: Artist Development Manager – 29 July
Taking up the post of Artist Development Manager at Tŷ Cerdd will provide the opportunity to connect directly with artists and to shape the work of our regularly-funded organisation – as well as to play an active role in the broader Welsh music sector.
Permanent contract, 3 days per week (22 hours) Open to flexible hours (this will include Tuesday as regular working day)
Location: Cardiff (but postholder can work remotely from anywhere in Wales). Salary band: £29,000-£33,000 pro rata
Call-outs
Black Bee Call for Submissions – Rolling
Black Bee Books is currently open for submissions from under-represented voices in Wales. As a new publishing house based in West Wales, the company want to be reflective of a wide variety of experiences and are actively seeking those who are under-served by the industry.
They are looking to publish both adult and young adult fiction and non-fiction, but not children’s books.
For submission guidelines please see: www.blackbeebooks.wales/contact
Hack Publishing – Rolling
Hack Publishing are looking for 10 writers to join us an exciting project that will explore work now and imagine working culture in the future. This will be a collection of essays with 10 different perspectives, although writers are encouraged to experiment with genre.
In addition, they are also looking for writers to contribute to their upcoming magazine. The first issue’s theme is: resilience. Writers can submit any genre of up to 3,500 words. It is a chance for new writers to see their work published alongside one another.
Find the full details on their website.
Arise 2024 – 29 July
Fio and Wales Millennium Centre are thrilled to present Arise. We are seeking 8 people from the Global Majority who are looking to take the next steps in their creative careers. Arise is a year-long programme running from September 2024 to September 2025.
This opportunity is paid, you will receive £150 a month to support you to attend the sessions. Arise 2024 — Fio (wearefio.org.uk)
Gladstone Library Scholarship – 31 July
The scholarships primarily enable those who would find the cost of staying at Gladstone’s Library difficult or prohibitive.
For a list of available scholarships and the application process, see: Scholarships | Gladstone’s Library (gladstoneslibrary.org)
Young Critics Scheme – 18 August
The Poetry Society and the T. S. Eliot Prize are delighted to open applications for a third year of the highly praised Young Critics Scheme.
This partnership programme offers ten emerging poetry reviewers aged 18-25 in the UK and Ireland, supporting them to review, via video, the The video reviews will appear on the T. S. Eliot Prize and The Poetry Society’s websites, social media and YouTube channels in the run-up to the announcement of the winner of the T. S. Eliot Prize in January 2025. The ten selected participants will attend four online workshops in October and November 2024 on reviewing poetry, editing and video-making, including advice from critics Helen Bowell and Isabelle Baafi. They will be assigned one book from the Prize’s shortlist in early October to review, and submit a video review in November.
No previous reviewing or poetry writing experience is required. Applications from writers underrepresented in poetry reviewing are encouraged, including those from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds; d/Deaf and disabled writers; working class writers; and LGBTQ+ writers. Young Critics Scheme 2024 Survey (surveymonkey.com)
Seren Books: Call-out for Non-fiction – 30 August
Seren Books is now open to submissions for ideas for non-fiction books which fulfil all of the following criteria:
- Place-based explorations of specific aspects of Wales which appeal to visitors and locals today – for example, guides to the best places for wild swimming, visiting unknown archaeological sites, foraging etc.
- Experience-focused, sharing journeys and moments with the reader and supporting them on how to find their own adventures.
- Informative and creatively written, with unusual content not readily available elsewhere (including online).
- Writers and/or contributors who are experts in their field or have a unique personal perspective.
- Visually attractive – consider how photography and/or other imagery, maps etc. could enhance your idea.
- Easy to market and would fit well within tourist information centres, heritage site gift shops etc.
- Relevant to a broad demographic of contemporary readers, including different age groups and backgrounds.
Submissions – Seren (serenbooks.com)
BookTrust Cymru: Big Welsh Rhyme Time Commissions 2025 – 13 September
BookTrust Cymru are inviting authors, poets, writers, musicians, performers and children’s storytellers to help create some special new content for Big Welsh Rhyme Time 2025.
They are offering up to three commissions of £600 each. Big Welsh Rhyme Time will take place 10th – 14th February 2025.
This year’s key message will be ‘Rhyming Fun for Everyone’.
With this in mind, they are looking for different voices from Wales to help create fun and engaging content that will encourage children to share and enjoy rhymes, poems and songs during Big Welsh Rhyme Time and beyond.
You can find out more and learn how to submit a proposal here.
Competitions
Eisteddfodau Cymru – Ongoing
There are several literary competitions held by various Eisteddfod events across Wales annually.
All the closing dates can be found here. For further information, visit the Cymdeithas Eisteddfodau Cymru website.
Gordon Burn Prize – 1 August
The Gordon Burn Prize is open now to fiction and non-fiction published between 1 December 2023 and 30 November 2024 that pushes boundaries, crosses genres, and challenges expectations, following in the footsteps of writer Gordon Burn. Judged by Terri White, Carl Anka, Angela Hui, Sarah Phelps and David Whitehouse, and supported by Newcastle University, the winner will receive £10,000 and the chance to undertake a writing retreat at Gordon Burn’s cottage in Berwickshire. More information.
Inclusive Voices Short Story Writing Competition – 31 August
Welcome to Inclusive Voices, where you have the chance to bring a print disabled character to life and win a special recording of your own audiobook! Our short story competition is putting accessibility at its heart to celebrate Calibre Audio, a national charity who’ve been providing audiobooks to people who struggle to read print for 50 years. Open to UK residents. More information.
WOW! Women on Writing Flash Fiction Contest Summer 2024 – 31 August
The quarterly WOW! Women on Writing Flash Fiction Contest invites original, unpublished flash fiction between 250 and 750 words by women writers on any theme. The contest is open globally; age is of no matter; and entries must be in English. Open to all styles and genres of flash fiction. More information.
CRIME CYMRU First Novel Prize – 3 September
Calling all budding crime writers in Wales! The Welsh crime writers’ collective, Crime Cymru, is offering an opportunity to show off your writing and reach a new level in your writing career.
To enter, you’ll need the first 5,000 words of a crime novel and a one-page synopsis outlining the full plot. You don’t need to have written the whole book at the time of submission. What is essential is that you haven’t already published a novel prior to entering (either via traditional means or self-publishing). However, if you’ve previously published a collection of stories, a book of poems or a work of non-fiction, you are eligible to enter.
Shortlisted authors will be invited to a prize giving ceremony at the Gŵyl CRIME CYMRU Festival in Aberystwyth in April 2025, where the winner will be announced. The winning entrant will receive a mentoring package from a successful crime writer worth £1000, and the two other shortlisted authors will receive a bundle of Crime Cymru authors’ books. All shortlisted authors will also receive two free weekend passes to Gŵyl CRIME CYMRU Festival which will offer the opportunity to meet a wealth of the UK’s top crime writers and industry professionals. Full details.
Flash 500 Novel Opening and Synopsis Competition – 31 October
Have you started, or completed, a novel with strong, credible characters and a page turning plot? Then why not enter our Novel Opening competition and have your work judged by Headline Publishing? We welcome published, self-published and unpublished novelists. The only stipulation is that the entry must be unpublished. More information.
Anthology Poetry Competition – 31 October
Established to recognise and encourage excellence in the craft of poetry writing and to provide a platform for publication, the Anthology Poetry Competition is open to original and previously unpublished poems in the English language. First prize of €1,000 and the winning poem published in Anthology magazine. More information.