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
Literature Wales Opportunities
Representing Wales 2025/2026 – 10 October
Apply now for the fifth round of Representing Wales!
Representing Wales is a 12-month programme which provides development opportunities for writers currently underrepresented in the literature sector in Wales. Individuals from under-represented backgrounds who wish to develop their creative writing skills and their professional careers as writers are invited to apply. The programme will run from April 2025 to March 2026. Representing Wales 2025-2026 – Literature Wales
Work Opportunities
National Youth Arts Wales: Head of Development – 9 September
National Youth Arts Wales wishes to recruit a full-time Head of Development to join the team. At National Youth Arts Wales, their mission is to empower the next generation of musicians, actors, dancers and makers to build a creative, confident and generous future for Wales. The Head of Development role is key to turning that strategic vision into reality. Working as part of a friendly, passionate and expert staff team, you will enjoy a varied workload, having an impact on the lives of thousands of young people throughout Wales. Salary: £35,000 – £40,000 per annum (dependent on experience). Location: Cardiff office, with flexible working possible, and some travel throughout Wales. More information.
Royal Society of Literature: Digital Officer – 12 September
The Royal Society of Literature (RSL) is one of the oldest learned societies in the UK, and Britain’s charity for the advancement of literature. The RSL acts as a voice for the value of literature, works to engage the public in literature, and honours and encourages writers at all stages of their careers. In our public events, awards and prizes for writers at all stages in their careers, and engagement programmes with young people and in prisons, the RSL demonstrates the ways in which literature shapes society, and that it can change an individual life.
Location: Hybrid working, with three days per week in thrir office at Somerset House in London. Occasional evening and weekend working required for RSL events, with time-off-in-lieu available. Hours: Permanent, full-time, 35 hours a week. Salary: £28,000 per annum. More information.
Ffilm Cymru Wales: Finance Officer – 12 September
Ffilm Cymru Wales are looking for a Finance Officer to help support the company with its financial administration. Permanent, Part-Time (21 hours per week). Salary: £24,750 FTE adjusted pro rata. Location: Working from our Cardiff office on a hybrid basis. More information.
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.
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.
Nawr Magazine – 15 September
Nawr magazine is open for submissions for their second print issue. For this issue, we are looking for work responding to the theme of ‘deffo/awaken’. What is it to be awoken? What world do we want to wake up to in the morning? What moments of awakening have you experienced? Is there something within you longing to be awoken; or a person you need to wake up?
As always we welcome any and all creative responses to our theme. We accept submissions of poetry, short stories (500-800 words), philosophy/creative critical essays (500-800 words), art and photography based around this theme. Submissions can be sent to nawrmag@gmail.com with subject line [YOUR NAME/CATEGORY/TITLE OF PIECE]. You must include your name and location along with your submission: we are looking for work from Welsh and Wales-based creatives. Please see our submissions highlight on Instagram for more details of How to Submit.
UK Young Academy – 9 October
The UK Young Academy is looking for enthusiastic, driven and talented emerging leaders to join its next group of members. As a member, you will have the opportunity to establish and lead your own initiatives and projects with other members, leveraging your expertise to drive innovative solutions and share knowledge across sectors. You’ll also help to set the agenda on issues that matter most to you and be part of a worldwide network of Young Academies that provide a voice to early-career researchers, innovators and professionals from across sectors, and work together to address societal challenges and bring about meaningful change.
Applications for membership to the UK Young Academy are open until Wednesday 9 October 2024. Applicants will be based in the UK with roughly 3 – 12 years’ experience post qualification or equivalent experience in their field. Further details of selection criteria and how to apply can be found on the UK Young Academy website or get in touch via enquiries@ukyoungacademy.org.
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.
The Book Edit Writers’ Prize – 15 October
The Book Edit Writers’ Prize 2024 opens on 1 September. Aimed at talented writers who might not otherwise have access to the industry, the prize is open to all unpublished British and/or UK-based novelists from backgrounds and communities under-represented in UK publishing. Completely free to enter, deadline 15 October 2024. Full details here.
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.
National Poetry Competition 2024 – 31 October
The competition, run by The Poetry Society since 1978, is one of the world’s most prestigious prizes for a single unpublished poem. This year’s judging panel includes Stephen Sexton, Romalyn Ante, and John McAuliffe. Open to all poets worldwide aged 18+. Prizes: £5,000, £2,000, £1,000, commendeds £500. Enter at npc.poetrysociety.org.uk
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.