Organizers of a regional literary prize have highlighted the ongoing struggle faced by northern writers in the London-centric literary world. Claire Malcolm, the founder and chief executive of New Writing North, which oversees the Northern Writers' Awards, emphasized that authors from the north of England often find it difficult to secure publishers and have their stories heard. The Northern Writers' 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.