Felicity Bryan Associates launches scheme for underrepresented writers

Felicity Bryan Associates (FBA) has launched a mentorship programme for emerging underrepresented fiction writers.

FBA New Voices will offer spaces to three unpublished and unagented writers who are working towards their first novel or short story collection. The winners will be mentored over nine months by a published author and an FBA literary agent, who will draw on their experience and expertise to give personalised feedback on the writer’s work-in-progress, as well as offering advice and insight into the publishing industry. The three writers will also have the chance to share their writing at a public showcase event in Oxford in early 2024. 

FBA agents Caroline Wood, Carrie Plitt and Angelique Tran Van Sang will be joined by authors K Patrick, recently named one of the Observer’s 10 best new novelists for 2023, Melody Razak, longlisted for the 2022 Desmond Elliott Prize for her novel Moth (W&N), and Cathy Thomas, author of 2022’s Islanders (Virago).

Tran Van Sang said: “Often what we are looking for as agents is a polished work, but it’s important to remember that authors need confidence and support to get to that point. This is why I’m so excited about this programme, organised by our agents’ assistant Juliet Garcia and junior agent Aoife Inman, which is designed to help nurture writers at that early, crucial stage in their careers.”

Applications are open to writers over the age of 18, based in the UK or Ireland, who consider themselves underrepresented on the UK’s  bookshelves, be that through ethnicity, disability, sexuality, gender, class or any other circumstances. 

Hopefuls are asked to submit between 8,000 and 10,000 words of their work-in-progress along with a 500-word synopsis and a short bio about themselves and their writing to: newvoices@felicitybryan.com. Submissions are open from Monday 16th January and will close at midnight on Sunday 26th March.

Patrick said: “I’m thrilled to be part of FBA New Voices — opportunities like these are essential in not only evolving exciting new works, but also building confidence, something that is not easy to come by as an emerging writer, especially when you don’t see yourself reflected back in the industry.”

Thomas added: "I was lucky enough to take part in a mentoring scheme earlier on in my writing journey and the experience changed my approach to writing, so I can wholeheartedly see how much this fantastic new programme might mean to aspiring authors."

Founded in 1988, FBA is an independent literary agency based in Oxford, representing authors including Damon Galgut, Anna Hope, Reni  Eddo-Lodge, Peter Frankopan and David Almond.