Felicity Bryan Associates’ scheme for underrepresented writers returns with focus on love stories

Felicity Bryan Associates’ scheme for underrepresented writers is returning for 2024 with a focus on love stories. 

“From epic romantasies to literary slow burns, romantic comedies and historical tales of lost soulmates, we want to read love stories in all their forms,” organisers said. 

Three selected writers will be mentored over nine months by an FBA author and literary agent, who will draw on their experience and expertise to give personalised feedback on the writer’s novel-in-progress.  

This year’s author mentors are Alan Murrin, Clara Kumagai and Kalie Reid. The agents are Alice Caprio, Angelique Tran Van Sang and Caroline Wood. 

Applications are open to unpublished fiction writers who consider themselves underrepresented on the UK’s bookshelves, be that through ethnicity, disability, sexuality, gender, class or any other circumstances.  

Applicants must be over the age of 18 and based in the UK or Ireland. Writers should be working towards a full-length fiction novel or novella (adult fiction and YA only, not middle grade).  

The theme for this year’s entries is "love stories". Applicants should submit between 8,000 and 10,000 words of a work-in-progress along with a 500-word synopsis and a short biography to newvoices@felicitybryan.com. Submissions are open from Wednesday 14th February and will close at midnight on Sunday 24th March.