PRH unveils new cohort of WriteNow programme participants

Penguin Random House UK has announced the nine writers – selected from 1,300 applicants –  joining the sixth WriteNow cohort.

Set up in 2016 to seek out, nurture and publish new writers from underrepresented communities and backgrounds in publishing, PRH said WriteNow is “designed to give participants the tools, information, and access needed to navigate the publishing industry and launch their career as an author".

The participants were chosen for their “exceptional” writing and “exciting” commercial fiction pitches. They include Abi McIntosh, a writer and producer from London whose novel follows Leah, who while drowning her sorrows for being overlooked for a promotion at a job she doesn’t even like, posts something on social media she can’t take back; Catherine Brinkworth and Jo Dinkin, a writing duo whose novel is entitled Pie and Mash: Detectives in Training and Coggin Galbreath, a writer, barista, and occasional drag queen whose novel is described as “a sweaty summer romance”. Amber Green, Corinne Anyika, Grace Murray, Shabeena Khan and Stacey Taylor also form this year’s cohort. Information on all the participants can be found here. 

Over the next 12 months each will receive one-to-one support to develop their manuscript from a Penguin Random House editor; a £1,000 writing development grant; insight and access to the wider publishing industry through tailored information sessions, workshops and networking opportunities, and a year’s free membership to the Society of Authors (SoA).

This year’s partnership with BBC Studios will also offer writers the chance to meet with producers within the BBC Studios network of production companies. If a writer’s book is acquired by Penguin Random House, BBC Studios will have an exclusive first look for TV and film adaptations.

Twenty-one WriteNow writers have been acquired by Penguin Random House imprints since the programme first launched in 2016, including Manjeet Mann, author of 2021 Costa Children’s Book Award-winner The Crossing, Emmett de Monterey, author of recently released memoir Go The Way Your Blood Beat, Jenny Ireland, author of The First Move and Charlene Allcott, author of More than a Mum.

Siena Parker, social impact director at Penguin Random House UK, said: “I couldn’t be more excited to welcome the sixth cohort of writers onto our WriteNow programme. Our new partnership with BBC Studios means that these writers will have more opportunities than ever before to explore different ways to develop their writing. WriteNow remains a key part of our work to ensure that the creators of our books represent and reflect UK society.”

Mark Linsey, president of scripted, BBC Studios Productions said: “We’re thrilled to congratulate this year’s finalists as they begin the 2023 WriteNow programme. Writers are at the heart of our industry, and this partnership continues our commitment to championing new writing talent. We look forward to working with Penguin Random House and the final nine as their incredible mix of stories take shape during the next year. Alongside our portfolio of BBC Studios producers, we can’t wait to explore the potential for their books to live beyond the page.”