Bookouture issues call-out for submissions from BAME fiction writers

Bookouture, in association with online magazine the Asian Writer and Dahlia Books, is putting out an exclusive call-out for commercial fiction submissions from unagented and unpublished writers from BAME backgrounds. Bookouture will be offering professional editorial feedback on books on a synopsis and first three chapters submitted throughout August.

Lucy Dauman, associate publisher at Bookouture, said: "We are committed to diversifying our list and ensuring that voices from all backgrounds are heard. It’s more apparent than ever that writers from BAME backgrounds are under-represented in publishing, and we hope that by helping to shape the pitch and those all-important first chapters, we can add real value to a writer’s publication journey and discover some exciting new voices in commercial fiction."

Farhana Shaikh, founder of Dahlia Books and Asian Writer, said: "We're seeing lots of publishers rushing to diversify their lists, which is right and long overdue. I'm thrilled to see that Bookouture is going one step further. Working with Lucy at Bookouture to bring this opportunity to writers from diverse backgrounds has been incredibly heartwarming. It's a fantastic opportunity for BAME writers to receive editorial feedback, which I'm certain will help them to develop their writing talent and support their journey to publication."

To submit, writers should send a short biography, a synopsis of up to 1,000 words, and the first three chapters (or first 50 pages, up to a total of 10,000 words) via the Bookouture website. The inbox will open at midnight on Saturday 1st August 2020, and the deadline for submissions is 11.59pm on Monday 31st August 2020.

Each submission will be read by a member of the Bookouture editorial team, who have undertaken to provide editorial feedback within six weeks from the date of submission. The feedback will cover the hook and the pitch, as well as the writing style and impact of the opening chapters. The editors will also advise on genre and where the work could sit in the market.

Futher details on what Bookouture is looking for can also be found on its website.