Hachette launches competition for underrepresented psychology writers
Hachette UK’s The Future Bookshelf and Robinson imprint have launched an open submissions competition, New Voices Award, to amplify the work of underrepresented experts in the field of psychology within the UK.
The competition is open to those who identify with underrepresented groups, including people of Black, Asian, mixed heritage and multiple ethnic backgrounds, as well as those who are disabled, gender diverse, part of the LGBTQIA+ community or from cultural or religious minorities. Those submitting must also have an MSc or above in psychology or an applied subdiscipline and relevant accreditation.
The winner will receive an introduction to a literary agent; feedback and guidance from Robinson’s editorial team on turning their proposal into a manuscript; and the offer of a publishing contract with Robinson with a minimum advance level of £5,000.
The New Voices Award – run with The Future Bookshelf which hosts Hachette UK’s creative writing programmes and Little, Brown imprint Robinson — is offered in partnership with the Little, Brown Spark list of Little, Brown and Company, USA. The competition will run annually, and will be hosted on alternate years by Robinson (open to writers in the UK) and by Little, Brown Spark (open to writers in the USA).
Andrew McAleer, editorial director at Robinson, said: “I’m delighted to launch this new initiative, open to previously unpublished and unagented writers and with a focus on hearing from diverse voices.
“Proposals must be for a work of commercial non-fiction, aimed at general readers, on any topic within any branch of psychology and each will be judged on its originality, credibility, rigour, relevance, usefulness and accessibility.
“I hope that we will discover exciting new talents in the field of psychology and offer them a remarkable opportunity to launch their literary careers.”
The submission process opens on the 23rd May 2024 for Robinson, having previously launched last year for Little, Brown Spark in America. Little, Brown Spark have recently announced the first US winner: Dr Evelyn Carter is a social psychologist whose practical and uncomfortable look at detecting racial bias will be published in 2026 by Little, Brown Spark and Robinson in their respective territories.
Carter will also be on the judging panel for the UK competition, along with three publisher staff, literary agent Amandeep Singh (of The Good Literary Agency) and Dr Deborah Husbands, an expert psychologist from the University of Westminster.
Talia Krohn, vice president and editorial director at Little, Brown Spark, said: “Too often, getting a book published requires more than just a great idea and great execution—it can also require access to industry gatekeepers and to the publishing process, putting those who have been historically excluded from the industry at a disadvantage. The New Voices Award aims to demystify the publishing process and lower the barriers to entry for authors who have been underrepresented in the past.”
Submissions will be open until 31st July 2024, and the winner will be announced in the autumn. To read more about the competition and to submit a proposal, visit bit.ly/robinson-new-voices-award.
