Hay Writers at Work 2024 – Writers Revealed
Hay Festival Global has announced the participants of Writers at Work 2024. The creative development programme for emerging Welsh talent takes place at Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye (23 May–2 June), and is supported by Literature Wales, and funded by Arts Council of Wales.
Offering a fully-programmed ten days of creative development opportunities, Hay Festival Writers at Work allows the selected writers to engage in Festival events, attend workshops with publishers, agents and, crucially, with established international artists. The project is run by writer Tiffany Murray, whose latest book, My Family and Other Rock Stars, is published in May.
Open to writers working in English and Welsh across genres – fiction, non-fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry – this year’s 10 successful applicants are:
- Dylan Huw
- Hammad Rind
- Isabel Adonis
- JL George
- Joshua Jones
- Katie Munnik
- Megan Angharad Hunter
- Rachel Dawson
- Taylor Edmonds
- Zoë Brigley
Participants to date have achieved a spread of award wins and shortlistings, including the International Dylan Thomas Prize, Wales Book of the Year, The New Welsh Writing Award, the Wasafiri New Writing Prize, Wales Media Award, Welsh Rising Star Award, and Creative Wales Award.
Established in 2016 to nurture Welsh talent writing in both languages, Writers at Work was paused during the Covid-19 pandemic. 2024 will mark its sixth year.
Hay Festival CEO Julie Finch said:
“Hay Festival Global is a convener of writers, readers and – crucially – creative opportunities. As one of Wales’ largest cultural institutions we are proud of our Welsh roots and take our responsibility to the cultural landscape of Wales seriously. We are delighted to showcase our Writers at Work 2024. This year’s programme of activities will meet the challenges Wales’ emerging creatives face today, guarding and growing our creative impact for the future.”
Literature Wales Artistic Director Leusa Llewelyn said:
“Congratulations to the ten writers selected to take part in the highly coveted Writers at Work opportunity this year. It was a privilege to read so many high-quality applications from Welsh writers, and to be introduced to a wide variety of voices and themes. The creative energy amongst the applications was palpable, and they were all full of ambition and eagerness to further their professional careers. We look forward to seeing how the writers develop from the wonderful offerings of Writers at Work 2024.”
Writer and former participant Darren Chetty said:
“Being part of Writers at Work was a superb experience. I got to hear from leading writers and be part of a supportive community of Welsh writers. Three of us who met as Writers at Work went on to co-edit Welsh (Plural): Essays on the Future of Wales.”
Read more about each writer on the Hay Festival website.