Spread the Word reveals 2022 London Writers cohort

London-based writers’ agency Spread the Word has today announced the names of 30 writers who have been selected for its 2022 London Writers Awards development programme.

The 10-month programme is returning for a fourth year and will support 30 writers from under-represented backgrounds in preparation for meeting publishers and agents. 

The writers will begin their programme  at the Writers’ Lab on 26th February. They will attend fortnightly critical feedback groups to grow and develop their work, participate in nine masterclasses led by writers and industry professionals, and receive a variety of  development opportunities with editors, agents and the Spread the Word team. The programme will culminate with an industry networking day where the awardees will be introduced to agents, editors and Spread the Word partners.

Rishi Dastidar, chair of Spread the Word Trustees, said: “I’m delighted that the London Writers Awards are once more able to showcase a group of wonderfully talented people from diverse backgrounds under-represented in traditional publishing. The programme remains unique in giving these individuals the chance to develop their skills so they are then ready to launch their professional writing careers. In both fiction and non-fiction genres, it is a joy to be able to work with these writers so their stories can be told on the biggest possible stages.”

The 2022 cohort, selected from 176 applications, come from a diverse range of backgrounds, writing across literary fiction, commercial fiction, narrative non-fiction and YA/children’s fiction. They include Mark O’Brien, a broadcaster for the Houses of Parliament, Tomek Mossakowski, a professional baker,  Rachel Marangozov, a director of MigrationWork CIC, Tia Bannon, a Rada-trained actor and artist, Amelia Giudici, a primary school teacher, Chris Bridges, an NHS nurse, and Mayo Agard-Olubo, a writer and poet. 

"As a literary agent I have been following the London Writers Awards for a number of years, drawn by the real change it is effecting within the publishing industry and by the quality of the writing it champions," said Matt Turner, agent at RCW and London Writers Awards judge. "It is a vital advocate for under-represented and marginalised communities and its package of support–mentoring, creative and career advice–is tailored to afford its cohort success and the opportunity to be read and to be heard. In so doing, the London Writers Awards is helping to make the literary world more accessible and, importantly, richer and fuller."

Spread the Word has also set up an alumni network for the 87 previous recipients of an award to facilitate ongoing craft, career and networking opportunities. To date, 31 of the writers who have completed the programme now have agents, with 17 book deals confirmed for authors including Natasha Brown, Tice Cin, Cecile Pin and Henry Fry.

The full list of London Writers Award winners is:
Literary Fiction
Alex Blank
Aparna Surendra
Joe Rizzo-Naudi
Lena Mohamed
Lizzie Clark
Mark O’Brien
Monica Kam
Nadège René
Oisín McKenna
Rachel Marangozov
Ulka Karandikar
William Andrews.

Commercial Fiction
Chris Bridges
FQ Yeoh
Ijeoma Okoye
Keah Lily
Hookz the Writer
Sharon Sylvan

Narrative Non-Fiction
Jenny Newman
Kayleigh Cassidy
Lorraine Lui
Rebecca White
SJ Lyon
Tia Bannon.

YA/Children’s Fiction
Alka Handa
Amelia Giudici
Kiana Thorpe
Mayo Agard-Olubo
Mel Pettitt
Tomek Mossakowski