Penguin Random House | London, 04/23/2018

‘Write Now’ Seeking New Talents in London, Liverpool and Nottingham

Penguin Random House UK is launching the third round of the nationwide “Write Now” initiative. Starting in May, talented writers can apply to participate in one of the events in London, Liverpool or Nottingham this September. With its “Write Now” initiative, the publishing group wants to discover and develop writing talents from under-represented communities.

Penguin Random House UK’s “Write Now” initiativehas received almost 5,000 applications in the past two years, hosted 300 guests at six events, and currently has 22 participants in the mentoring program. The initiative is now entering a new round. With this initiative, the British publishing group aims to discover and develop new writing talent from communities under-represented on the nation’s bookshelves, including writers from socio-economically marginalized backgrounds, writers with a disabilities, or those from the LGBTQ community as well as members of ethnic minorities. 

Starting in May, writing talents can apply to participate in one of the three planned “Write Now” events this September in London, Liverpool and Nottingham and have an exchange about experiences and skills with employees of the British publishing group. Ten of them will get the chance to join the mentoring program of Penguin Random House UK with the hope of having their books published.

For the first time, illustrators can apply this year. By opening up the program to illustrators, Penguin Random House hopes to ensure that the picture books it publishes represent the lives, cultures and communities of all children in the UK.

“Already Achieving Real Change”

Tom Weldon, CEO of Penguin Random House, commented: “When we launched ‘Write Now’ in 2016, our aim was to seek out talented new writers and different stories that represent everyone in our society. Two years on, the program is already achieving real change: reaching communities of writers we haven’t before and adding new and exciting voices to our lists. We hope that by also inviting illustrators of children’s picture books to apply we are further breaking down barriers to publication. Seeing yourself in books is important at any age, but especially for our youngest readers.”

Penguin Random House illustrator Nadia Shireen said: “I think ‘Write Now’ is a really useful and practical initiative, and I am extremely excited about this year’s focus on children's books and illustration. Books help children navigate the world around them, and a well-rendered picture book holds a certain type of mystery and magic. But we need more picture book makers from all walks of life. But, sadly, opportunities to break into the publishing world are tricky, so proactive schemes like this are needed more than ever.”

First Book To Be Published This Summer

Penguin Random House UK is collaborating with the “Book Trust” organization for the “Write Now” initiative. The publishing group also gets support for the events from “Spread the Word” in London, “New Writing North” in Liverpool and “Writing East Midlands” in the UNESCO City of Literature, Nottingham.

Since its launch two years ago, five writers from the program have already been offered publishing contracts by Penguin Random House UK. The first book by a “Write Now” mentee was written by Charlene Allcott. Penguin Random House UK will publish her debut novel “The Reinventio of Martha Ross” in July, and the second publication, “Music Love Drugs War” by Geraldine Quigley, has already been chosen.