Watson, Little launches writing prize for 50th anniversary

The Watson, Little Literary Agency has launched an international writing prize to celebrate the agency’s 50th anniversary with the 2021 edition open to writers over 50 writing upmarket fiction.

One winner will receive a personalised mentorship, including two digital advice sessions encompassing personalised editorial feedback on the submitted material from the agency's staff, as well as guidance on aspects of publishing and literary representation. Longlistees will be invited to a panel event covering all aspects of publishing, and will receive editorial feedback on their submitted material.

“We welcome writers in this demographic from all backgrounds, and recognise that age is no barrier when it comes to writing brilliant fiction,” the agency said. “The 2021 prize is open to unagented writers who were 50 years of age or older on the 9th February 2021.”

The prize is also open to writers in the English language from all around the world, which the company said is in recognition of how the world has opened up digitally since Covid-19. “One of the outcomes of the pandemic has been an increased use of different technologies, including internet calls and video conferencing for meetings,” the agency said. “It means that literary agents are more able to effectively represent writers who are based in countries across the world, and the Watson, Little Prize is designed with that in mind.”

Its 2021 edition will focus on upmarket fiction, with future editions of the prize likely to focus on different genres.

Literary agent Donald Winchester told The Bookseller: "We’re delighted to be marking Watson, Little’s 50th anniversary with the launch of the Watson, Little Prize. So much has changed during this pandemic, including ways to reach both readers and writers. It seems only fitting to reach out to writers from many different backgrounds across the world with this prize - in this inaugural year with a focus on older generations, who have over the years written such wonderful books but are often overlooked - and we hope to uncover some brilliant new talent."

Entrants should send over a 500-word plot outline and 5,000 words taken from the beginning of an unpublished novel in the English language belonging to the upmarket fiction genre. Applications for the 2021 prize will open on 5th July and close on 30th July. There is no application fee. For further information visit the agency's website.

Originally formed as Bolt & Watson Ltd in February 1971, the agency began when David Bolt and Sheila Watson — both senior directors at David Higham Associates at the time — left to start their own company. Mandy Little joined Bolt & Watson in 1981 as a literary agent, becoming a director two years later when the company divided into David Bolt Associates and Watson, Little Ltd. Watson and Little built the company to include a wide range of fiction and non-fiction for both adults and children.