Northern Writers Struggle to Break into London Literary Scene, Prize Organisers Say 2024-06-23

Organizers of a regional literary prize have highlighted the ongoing struggle faced by northern writers in the London-centric literary world. , the founder and chief executive of , which oversees the ' Awards, emphasized that authors from the north of England often find it difficult to secure publishers and have their stories heard. ' Awards, now in its 25th year, was established in the late 1990s to address the challenges faced by writers in the north and provide support to new talent in the region. Malcolm stated that there is still a lack of equal opportunities for northern writers, and more investment and connections are needed to help them succeed in the publishing industry.

disadvantages in publishing industry literary world London literary life London-centric literary scene New Writing North northern authors' challenges northern England northern literary scene northern writers northern writers' opportunities.northern writers' stories Northern Writers’ Awards northern writing community northern writing talent prejudice against northern writers publishing industry regional literary prize struggles of northern authors writing talent

What is the Northern Writers’ Awards and why was it established?

The Northern Writers’ Awards is a regional literary prize established in the late 1990s to discover and support new writing talent in the north of England, tackling disadvantages faced by writers who felt shut out by the publishing industry.

What challenges do northern writers face in the London-centric literary world?

Northern writers still face a struggle to make it in the London-centric literary world, as prejudice has meant authors from the north of England struggle to find publishers and their stories go unheard.

What is the main issue that the organisers of the Northern Writers’ Awards are trying to address?

The organisers are trying to make the case for a level playing field for northern talent, as they believe that talent in the north is still struggling to make connections and needs investment in order to thrive in the literary world.