Greene & Heaton launches underrepresented writers mentoring scheme

Literary agency Greene & Heaton is to launch a submissions initiative and mentoring scheme for writers from underrepresented backgrounds, as part of The Greene Door Project.

The project started out as an initial six-week open submissions scheme, inviting aspiring writers of colour to submit work across any genre to the agency. Every submission was read by an agent, with the most promising receiving feedback.

In 2019 the agency held its Greene Door Pitch Event, providing an opportunity for aspiring writers to meet a literary agent, ask questions about seeking representation and the publishing process, and to discuss their work in a 10-minute one-to-one sessions.

The newly launched scheme will see 30 promising writers receive one-to-one feedback on their submission via Zoom and five finalists will then be offered a period of mentoring with an agent at Greene & Heaton.

The agency is welcoming applications from unagented writers living in the UK from any group that is underrepresented in terms of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability or socioeconomic background. Applicants should include a covering letter, a synopsis of their work and up to 5,000 words of the opening of their novel or non-fiction book, to be submitted by Friday 17th September.

Successful writers will be contacted by 30th September, to schedule a 15-minute feedback Zoom session in October, depending on the writer’s and agent’s availability, and those who secure a position on the scheme will be notified by 1st November.