Discoveries 2023 is open for submissions

We and the Curtis Brown literary agency are delighted to be partnering with the Women’s Prize Trust and Audible to run the third Discoveries writing development programme and prize for unpublished women writers currently residing in the UK or Ireland. The prize accepts novels in any genre of adult fiction, with entrants invited to submit the first 10,000 words of their novel and a synopsis.

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'Keep going even when you realise the draft you’ve spent months or years writing isn’t the one'

Stacey Thomas won the Clare Mackintosh Novel-Writing Scholarship in 2021, which awarded her a free place on our online Writing Your Novel – Six Months course and mentoring with bestselling novelist Clare Mackintosh. Now Stacey has a two-book deal – her scholarship-winning novel The Revels will be published by HQ in July 2023. We spoke to Stacey about her time studying with us, her advice for budding writers looking to apply for scholarships, and the 17th-century witch hunts that inspired her debut novel.

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'The fun part of collaborating is seeing what comes out at the end'

Top children’s author-illustrators Sarah McIntyre and David O'Connell share some of the secrets behind their approach to creating characters and worlds for children's picture books. Sarah and David collaborated on the picture book Jampires – they are also co-tutors of our ten-week online Writing & Illustrating a Children’s Picture Book course. Next course begins 6 Oct.

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Our current courses

Writing Your Novel – Three Months

Learn from Booker Prize longlisted author Wyl Menmuir. Take part in flexible online study with writing workshops, tutorials, and video lessons. Attend a live Zoom Q&A with literary agent Sabhbh Curran. Course begins 14 Nov.

Apply by 9 Oct

John le Carré Scholarship

We are honoured to offer this novel-writing scholarship in memory of the late John le Carré. One talented writer with low income will be awarded a free place on our online Writing Your Novel – Three Months course, beginning 14 Nov.

Apply by 30 Oct

Writing & Illustrating a Children's Picture Book

Create vibrant stories for children. These online courses led by celebrated author-illustrators Sarah McIntyre and David O'Connell will teach you to write and/or illustrate stories that capture the imaginations of young readers. Courses begin 6 Oct.

Enrol by 5 Oct