PRH WriteNow scheme partners with BBC Studios in ‘first of its kind’ collaboration

Penguin Random House’s WriteNow scheme has partnered with BBC Studios for 2022/23, as the programme focuses on commercial fiction for screen adaptation.

The scheme, which aims to nurture and publish new under-represented voices, will give successful writers a £1,000 grant to help them develop their craft for the first time, after reviewing feedback from last year’s cohort.

The 2022/23 programme will focus exclusively on commercial fiction, with editors looking for love stories, family drama, thriller, crime and comic novels in submissions. BBC Studios will be looking for stand-out commercial novels to adapt for the screen and will have an exclusive first look at the writer’s book, if acquired by a Penguin Random House imprint, for TV and film adaptations. This may lead to production development for major international broadcasters and streaming platforms. The partnership between a publisher and studio is said to be the first of its kind for a writing programme.

All applicants will be invited to a free “How to Get Published” online workshop to help demystify the publishing industry. Longlisted and shortlisted writers will receive one-on-one feedback sessions with editors, an online “write-along”, and further Q&A sessions with industry experts from PRH and the BBC.

A final cohort of up to 10 writers will then be invited on to the editorial programme, where they will be matched with an editor who will work with them on their manuscript. The scheme will open for applications on 7th November and close at midnight on 8th January.

To date, 20 writers discovered through WriteNow have been published by Penguin Random House UK, and seven writers have gone on to be published elsewhere.

Louisa Burden-Garabedian, senior social impact executive at Penguin, said: “We’re really excited about what WriteNow has on offer for writers this year, which comes following five successful cohorts and a recent programme review to better understand where we should develop and improve the programme’s focus. 

“WriteNow is one of the ways we aim to ensure that the creators of our books represent UK society, and this partnership with BBC Studios will allow us to shine a light on the TV industry alongside publishing and offer writers unparalleled advice and insight as they set themselves up in a successful career as an author.”

Mark Linsey, m.d. of scripted content at BBC Studios said: “BBC Studios is a longstanding champion of new writing talent, and we are delighted to be partnering on this year’s WriteNow. With more platforms than ever before looking to commission top-tier content, the competition for IP has never been fiercer, and our producers are hungry for new, bold ideas to dramatise.

“We’re delighted to secure a first look on the WriteNow finalists’ books, which always produces such high-calibre storytelling, and can’t wait to see the shortlisted books.”