The Women’s Prize Trust – the charity championing women writers on a global stage – calls for entries for its 2022 Discoveries writing development programme, which culminates with awarding the Discoveries Prize for an unpublished novel-in-progress. In partnership with Audible, Curtis Brown Literary Agency, and the Curtis Brown Creative writing school, Discoveries is more than a traditional prize whereby the winner receives an offer of representation and £5000; it is a pioneering development initiative which offers practical support and encouragement to aspiring female novelists of all ages and backgrounds, from across the UK and Ireland.
In its inaugural year of 2021, there were over 2,500 entries, 73% of which were from writers who lived outside London. The winning author, Emma van Straaten, has been signed by Curtis Brown agent Lucy Morris. Three other Discoveries longlisted writers have since accepted offers of representation by UK literary agents, and all 16 longlistees have been offered mentoring by Curtis Brown agents and the opportunity to take part in Curtis Brown Creative writing courses.
The 2022 judging panel will again be chaired by Kate Mosse, international bestselling novelist and Founder Director of the Women’s Prize; and includes esteemed writers Ayisha Malik and Irenosen Okojie; Lucy Morris, Curtis Brown literary agent; and Anna Davis, Founder and Managing Director of Curtis Brown Creative writing school.
Kate Mosse, Novelist & Founder Director of Women’s Prize for Fiction, said:
“The Women’s Prize has always championed women authors – wherever they come from, whatever their age, whatever their genre of writing – to tell their own stories and worked to ensure that the widest possible range of female voices and experiences are heard. When the Women’s Prize Trust launched the Discoveries writing programme in 2021, we were blown away by the response from so many talented and inspiring writers and it’s been hugely gratifying to see a number of them go on to receive representation from agents. We are absolutely thrilled to be building on last year’s success and to be creating an enhanced programme in 2022, with the aim of receiving even more
submissions from all over the UK and Ireland. As well as welcoming budding writers, we also hope to inspire women who haven’t picked up the pen before, who perhaps haven’t had time or the opportunity to explore their creativity.”
Discoveries invites unpublished women writers from the UK or Ireland to submit the opening of a novel in English, of up to 10,000 words. Unlike most initiatives of this kind, writers are not required to have finished their novel, and Discoveries is completely free to enter.
The support package offered to the Discoveries longlisted writers has been enhanced for 2022. A brand-new bespoke, two-week online Discoveries Writing Development Course has been designed by Curtis Brown Creative for the 16 writers, to be taught by CBC tutor Charlotte Mendelson, who was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2008 with When We Were Bad. The course will focus on the works-in-progress of the longlisted writers, using one-to-one tutorials, live teaching on Zoom, and writing exercises and group discussion on Curtis Brown Creative’s online learning platform. Taking place from 27th June to 8th July 2022, the course will culminate in a teaching session with Curtis Brown literary agents. All 16 writers will also receive an annual Audible subscription.
As well as the Discoveries Writing Development Course offered to all 16 longlisted writers, the
overall Discoveries prize-winner will be offered representation by Curtis Brown Literary Agency and a cash prize of £5,000, plus have the opportunity to workshop their manuscript with an Audible commissioning editor, who will be specifically matched to their writing style and genre. The Discoveries Scholar, selected from among the shortlist of six, will be offered a free scholarship place to attend a three-month Writing Your Novel course with Curtis Brown Creative (worth £1,800) plus a mentoring session with a Curtis Brown agent. Four further shortlisted writers will be offered a mentoring session with a Curtis Brown agent plus free enrolment on a Curtis Brown Creative six week online course (worth £210). All six shortlisted writers will take part in a studio session with Audible.
Submissions are open from 30 September 2021 until 11:59pm on 17 January 2022. The longlist and shortlist will be announced in May, and the winner in June 2022.
