A D Aaba Atach, Vic Eveline and Sarah Cotton win £15k Early Career Bursaries for London Writers

Spread the Word has awarded its 2024 Early Career Bursaries for London Writers, each worth £15,000, to narrative non-fiction writers A D Aaba Atach and Vic Eveline and short story writer Sarah Cotton.  

Each writer is awarded a bursary of £15,000, with £10,000 being awarded as cash and £5,000 towards talent development, including mentoring.  

It is the second year of the funding programme which aims to make a significant difference to writers’ development of their craft and support career progression with no expectation of a defined output. The annual bursary programme is for unagented and unpublished writers who are on a low income.  

Developing her creative non-fiction project How Dare a Woman: A Family Memoir of the Daughters of Iran, Atach said: “In the pursuit of an inclusive publishing industry, few organisations actually champion writers on a low income by recognising our talent and contributions to the literary world. Being awarded the Early Career Bursary is not merely a privilege; it’s a sanctuary that nurtures the literary potential of those whose stories were often borrowed and written by others more fortunate.” 

Eveline said: “The support of Spread the Word and the Early Career Bursary will allow me to put my writing front and centre of my life and really focus on getting the words out and taking my writing to the next level — something I am all too aware is an unaffordable luxury for so many writers.”

Cotton, who is developing her collection of short stories, Between the Walls, said: “It’s incredibly encouraging to be chosen for this bursary. The generous financial component will relieve pressure and allow me to focus on my writing while the tailored support will motivate me to progress and guide me to develop and sustain a creative practice.” 

The 2024 judges were writers Monique Roffey, Patrice Lawrence and Santanu Bhattacharya. The bursaries are made possible by a philanthropic gift from Sam and Rosie Berwick, who won the 2022 Achates Prize for Individual Philanthropy for the programme. 

The Berwicks said: “Both of us are thrilled with how the first year of the bursary programme has evolved and are both unreservedly looking forward to working with the amazing Spread the Word and more exceptional writers over the next 12 months.” 

Ruth Harrison, director of Spread the Word, commented: “We are delighted to continue the Early Career Bursaries for London Writers and support these three talented writers. It comes at a time when the cost-of-living crisis continues to impact on writers’ ability to create the time and space to develop their work and make a career as an author. It’s more clear now than ever that we’re at risk of losing a generation of talent.”  

Spread the Word and the Berwicks are calling for a wider conversation with the publishing industry, philanthropists and funders on supporting writers on a low income in creating work and progressing a creative career. Email bobby@spreadtheword.org.uk to discuss further.