John Studzinski in Tokyo on October 28, 2013. (YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP via Getty Images)
Jewish Book Week UK is sponsoring a major programme for emerging writers, in partnership with the Genesis Foundation for the arts.
The 2021-2022 Genesis Jewish Book Week Emerging Writers Programme is open to applicants with at least 18 years of age and living in the UK, who have no more than three years’ experience of being published and feel they would benefit from the support and insight of an established writer.
Unpublished writers are welcome to apply.
“We are looking for people with a passion and talent for writing,” the Director of the Genesis Foundation, Harriet Capaldi, told the Catholic Herald, “from any faith and any background.”
Mentors for the 2021 programme include Tracy Chevalier, Sophie Herxheimer, Sam Leith, Benjamin Markovits, A D Miller, Caroline Moorehead, George Prochnik, Kavita Puri, Cathy Rentzenbrink, and George Szirtes.
“At the Genesis Foundation,” Capaldi said, “we have been nurturing and encouraging emerging artists and creatives for twenty years,” ever since John Studzinski CBE – prominent financier and philanthropist twice knighted by Pope St. John Paul II – established the organisation in support of young artists in theatre and music.
“For this programme,” Capaldi also said, “we are looking for talented writers who would benefit from mentoring and support to get them to the next level.”
“Hopefully,” Capaldi added, “we will unearth some hidden literary gems.”
Ten awards are available, providing each successful applicant with up to eight hours of one-to-one mentoring over nine months – 1 July 2021 through 1 March 2022 – as well as ten 90-minute masterclasses, peer support sessions, and a bursary of up to £1,500.
Interested applicants should be working – or planning to work – on a project for publication. The project may be in one of several genres: short form fiction; long form fiction; poetry; nonfiction; journalism. The applicant's project should focus on the theme: Beginnings.
Applications – one per applicant – are being accepted until 31 May.
