Our annual awards programme has opened for entries in our 25th anniversary year. Writers based in the North of England can now submit their work-in-progress to the Northern Writers’ Awards to win cash prizes, mentoring, career support and more. There are also special awards for young writers aged 11-18.
Award categories cover fiction, narrative non-fiction and poetry, for both new and published writers. More award categories will open at staggered dates throughout 2024.
The Awards
Northern Writers' Awards: the flagship awards strand offers cash prizes of up to £5000 to writers of fiction, narrative non-fiction, YA, graphic novels, short stories and poetry.
Northern Debut Awards: for writers of fiction, young adult fiction, narrative non-fiction or poetry who are yet to publish a full-length work. They will win a package of support including a £2000 bursary and mentoring.
Northumbria University Student and Alumni Award: worth £2000, for a writer of fiction, narrative non-fiction or poetry who is a final-year student or recent graduate of Northumbria University.
Young Northern Writers' Awards: recognise young writers aged 11-14 and 15-18 whose work shows exceptional promise. Each writer will be awarded £150.
Matthew Hale Award: open to young writers aged 11-18 who show promise but have had limited opportunities to pursue their talent. The winner will receive a package of support worth £500.
The Judges
Malika Booker: Poetry and Young Writers
Ashley Hickson-Lovence: Fiction, Narrative Non-Fiction and YA
Rachel Mann: Fiction, Narrative Non-Fiction and YA
The Northern Writers’ Awards are produced by New Writing North and supported by Northumbria University, Arts Council England and a range of partners.
Find out more here
Deadline: 12 February 2024