Opportunities
Welcome to Literature Wales’ opportunities page where we share internal and external literary opportunities, from competitions to residencies, from Wales and beyond. If you have any opportunities you’d like us to feature, please email us on: post@literaturewales.org
Literature Wales Opportunities
Reinventing the Protagonist – 29 August
Reinventing the Protagonist is a free digital course for Deaf and/or Disabled and/or Neurodiverse writers living in Wales. This opportunity is organised by Literature Wales in partnership with Disability Arts Cymru. The course is run as a series of 5 digital workshops and one-on-one sessions, led by internationally acclaimed playwright and writer Kaite O’Reilly. Reinventing the Protagonist: Opportunity for Deaf and/or Disabled and/or Neurodiverse Writers – Literature Wales
Welsh-language LGBTQ+ Writers Retreat – 30 August
Every year since 2022, Literature Wales welcomes Llyfrau Lliwgar to Tŷ Newydd to run a Welsh-language LGBTQ+ writers’ retreat. The retreat is offered free of charge for writers, or emerging writers – no great experience is necessary to take part. In addition to holding monthly meetings to discuss books, Llyfrau Lliwgar has become a forum to promote and support Welsh queer writers. Application window to join the 2024 retreat is now open!
Representing Wales 2025/2026 – 10 October
Apply now for the fifth round of Representing Wales!
Representing Wales is a 12-month programme which provides development opportunities for writers currently underrepresented in the literature sector in Wales. Individuals from under-represented backgrounds who wish to develop their creative writing skills and their professional careers as writers are invited to apply. The programme will run from April 2025 to March 2026. Representing Wales 2025-2026 – Literature Wales
Work Opportunities
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama: Marketing and Creative Programming Assistant – 29 August
The Marketing and Creative Programming Assistant plays a vital role in the delivery of the programme, assisting with the marketing and co-ordination of all performances and events promoted and produced by the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Location: Cardiff. Salary: £24,248 – £27,181. More information.
NoFit State Circus: Reception and Facilities Manager – 30 August
As the first point of contact, the Reception and Facilities Manager plays a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of their community-centred building and representing NoFit State more widely. Location: Cardiff. Working hours: Full time. Salary: £30,000. More information.
National Youth Arts Wales: Head of Development – 9 September
National Youth Arts Wales wishes to recruit a full-time Head of Development to join the team. At National Youth Arts Wales, their mission is to empower the next generation of musicians, actors, dancers and makers to build a creative, confident and generous future for Wales. The Head of Development role is key to turning that strategic vision into reality. Working as part of a friendly, passionate and expert staff team, you will enjoy a varied workload, having an impact on the lives of thousands of young people throughout Wales. Salary: £35,000 – £40,000 per annum (dependent on experience). Location: Cardiff office, with flexible working possible, and some travel throughout Wales. More information.
Royal Society of Literature: Digital Officer – 12 September
The Royal Society of Literature (RSL) is one of the oldest learned societies in the UK, and Britain’s charity for the advancement of literature. The RSL acts as a voice for the value of literature, works to engage the public in literature, and honours and encourages writers at all stages of their careers. In our public events, awards and prizes for writers at all stages in their careers, and engagement programmes with young people and in prisons, the RSL demonstrates the ways in which literature shapes society, and that it can change an individual life.
Location: Hybrid working, with three days per week in thrir office at Somerset House in London. Occasional evening and weekend working required for RSL events, with time-off-in-lieu available. Hours: Permanent, full-time, 35 hours a week. Salary: £28,000 per annum. More information.
Ffilm Cymru Wales: Finance Officer – 12 September
Ffilm Cymru Wales are looking for a Finance Officer to help support the company with its financial administration. Permanent, Part-Time (21 hours per week). Salary: £24,750 FTE adjusted pro rata. Location: Working from our Cardiff office on a hybrid basis. More information.
Call-outs
Black Bee Call for Submissions – Rolling
Black Bee Books is currently open for submissions from under-represented voices in Wales. As a new publishing house based in West Wales, the company want to be reflective of a wide variety of experiences and are actively seeking those who are under-served by the industry.
They are looking to publish both adult and young adult fiction and non-fiction, but not children’s books.
For submission guidelines please see: www.blackbeebooks.wales/contact
Hack Publishing – Rolling
Hack Publishing are looking for 10 writers to join us an exciting project that will explore work now and imagine working culture in the future. This will be a collection of essays with 10 different perspectives, although writers are encouraged to experiment with genre.
In addition, they are also looking for writers to contribute to their upcoming magazine. The first issue’s theme is: resilience. Writers can submit any genre of up to 3,500 words. It is a chance for new writers to see their work published alongside one another.
Find the full details on their website.
Seren Books: Call-out for Non-fiction – 30 August
Seren Books is now open to submissions for ideas for non-fiction books which fulfil all of the following criteria:
- Place-based explorations of specific aspects of Wales which appeal to visitors and locals today – for example, guides to the best places for wild swimming, visiting unknown archaeological sites, foraging etc.
- Experience-focused, sharing journeys and moments with the reader and supporting them on how to find their own adventures.
- Informative and creatively written, with unusual content not readily available elsewhere (including online).
- Writers and/or contributors who are experts in their field or have a unique personal perspective.
- Visually attractive – consider how photography and/or other imagery, maps etc. could enhance your idea.
- Easy to market and would fit well within tourist information centres, heritage site gift shops etc.
- Relevant to a broad demographic of contemporary readers, including different age groups and backgrounds.
Submissions – Seren (serenbooks.com)
BookTrust Cymru: Big Welsh Rhyme Time Commissions 2025 – 13 September
BookTrust Cymru are inviting authors, poets, writers, musicians, performers and children’s storytellers to help create some special new content for Big Welsh Rhyme Time 2025.
They are offering up to three commissions of £600 each. Big Welsh Rhyme Time will take place 10th – 14th February 2025.
This year’s key message will be ‘Rhyming Fun for Everyone’.
With this in mind, they are looking for different voices from Wales to help create fun and engaging content that will encourage children to share and enjoy rhymes, poems and songs during Big Welsh Rhyme Time and beyond.
You can find out more and learn how to submit a proposal here.
Nawr Magazine – 15 September
Nawr magazine is open for submissions for their second print issue. For this issue, we are looking for work responding to the theme of ‘deffo/awaken’. What is it to be awoken? What world do we want to wake up to in the morning? What moments of awakening have you experienced? Is there something within you longing to be awoken; or a person you need to wake up?
As always we welcome any and all creative responses to our theme. We accept submissions of poetry, short stories (500-800 words), philosophy/creative critical essays (500-800 words), art and photography based around this theme. Submissions can be sent to nawrmag@gmail.com with subject line [YOUR NAME/CATEGORY/TITLE OF PIECE]. You must include your name and location along with your submission: we are looking for work from Welsh and Wales-based creatives. Please see our submissions highlight on Instagram for more details of How to Submit.
Competitions
Eisteddfodau Cymru – Ongoing
There are several literary competitions held by various Eisteddfod events across Wales annually.
All the closing dates can be found here. For further information, visit the Cymdeithas Eisteddfodau Cymru website.
Inclusive Voices Short Story Writing Competition – 31 August
Welcome to Inclusive Voices, where you have the chance to bring a print disabled character to life and win a special recording of your own audiobook! Our short story competition is putting accessibility at its heart to celebrate Calibre Audio, a national charity who’ve been providing audiobooks to people who struggle to read print for 50 years. Open to UK residents. More information.
WOW! Women on Writing Flash Fiction Contest Summer 2024 – 31 August
The quarterly WOW! Women on Writing Flash Fiction Contest invites original, unpublished flash fiction between 250 and 750 words by women writers on any theme. The contest is open globally; age is of no matter; and entries must be in English. Open to all styles and genres of flash fiction. More information.
CRIME CYMRU First Novel Prize – 3 September
Calling all budding crime writers in Wales! The Welsh crime writers’ collective, Crime Cymru, is offering an opportunity to show off your writing and reach a new level in your writing career.
To enter, you’ll need the first 5,000 words of a crime novel and a one-page synopsis outlining the full plot. You don’t need to have written the whole book at the time of submission. What is essential is that you haven’t already published a novel prior to entering (either via traditional means or self-publishing). However, if you’ve previously published a collection of stories, a book of poems or a work of non-fiction, you are eligible to enter.
Shortlisted authors will be invited to a prize giving ceremony at the Gŵyl CRIME CYMRU Festival in Aberystwyth in April 2025, where the winner will be announced. The winning entrant will receive a mentoring package from a successful crime writer worth £1000, and the two other shortlisted authors will receive a bundle of Crime Cymru authors’ books. All shortlisted authors will also receive two free weekend passes to Gŵyl CRIME CYMRU Festival which will offer the opportunity to meet a wealth of the UK’s top crime writers and industry professionals. Full details.
Flash 500 Novel Opening and Synopsis Competition – 31 October
Have you started, or completed, a novel with strong, credible characters and a page turning plot? Then why not enter our Novel Opening competition and have your work judged by Headline Publishing? We welcome published, self-published and unpublished novelists. The only stipulation is that the entry must be unpublished. More information.
Anthology Poetry Competition – 31 October
Established to recognise and encourage excellence in the craft of poetry writing and to provide a platform for publication, the Anthology Poetry Competition is open to original and previously unpublished poems in the English language. First prize of €1,000 and the winning poem published in Anthology magazine. More information.