The Literary Consultancy is delighted to announce that we are among the 9% of National Portfolio Organisations to have been granted an uplift in funding from Arts Council England for the period 2015-2018, during which time we will be expanding our offer of free manuscript assessment, mentoring and events to talented, low-income writers. This is the spur for our Quality Writing For All Campaign, during which we will be working toward promoting TLC’s role in supporting quality writing across the literary community through events, discussion, and widening the reach of our services. We will be working with award-winning PR company FMcM, in particular focusing on supporting talented, low-income writers from diverse backgrounds, including BAME and disabled writers. This work will include improving access to professional services to these writers, and championing their work where appropriate, via showcases, events, and support from our newly-appointed Quality Manuscript Officer, Helen Francis. We will also be working with new diversity-focussed partners from 2015 who shall be announced at the launch, as well as continuing to work closely with our twelve existing Free Read partner organisations, with whom we are proud to collaborate. These are:
Arvon
Commonword
New Writing Cumbria
Literature Works
Dorset County Council
New Writing North
New Writing South
Writing Yorkshire
Writers’ Centre Norwich
Spread the Word
Writing East Midlands
Writing West Midlands
One of the key areas of our campaign will consider the ‘democratising’ possibilities offered by e-reading and writing technology. We are keen to explore these in the context of preserving literary values, and promoting excellence in writing across all platforms, as opportunities for writers continue to proliferate. The campaign will enjoy an official launch on June 16th, and further updates will be available via our newsletter and website.
QUOTES FROM FREE READ SCHEME CLIENTS
“TLC INTRODUCED MY WORK TO AGENTS AND PUBLISHERS ON MY BEHALF. I SUSPECT NO-ONE WOULD HAVE LOOKED AT IT OTHERWISE.”
JENNY DOWNHAM, Best-selling author of BEFORE I DIE (filmed as Now is Good starring Dakota Fanning), David Fickling Books
“THE TLC READ WAS A BRILLIANT OPPORTUNITY TO GET DETAILED AND USEFUL FEEDBACK. EVIE WYLD’S REPORT WAS COMPREHENSIVE AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING. TEN THINGS I’VE LEARNT ABOUT LOVE HAS NOW SOLD IN FIFTEEN TERRITORIES, AND WAS SELECTED AS BOOK OF THE WEEK ON OPRAH.COM AFTER IT WAS PUBLISHED BY PENGUIN PRESS IN THE US.”
SARAH BUTLER, TEN THINGS I’VE LEARNT ABOUT LOVE, Picador
“I RE-READ THE MS, AND, WITH THE HELP OF ANNA’S EXCELLENT ADVICE, RE-WROTE. WHEN MY AGENT SENT THE BOOK OFF AGAIN, WE SECURED A DEAL WITH SERPENT’S TAIL.”
BETHAN ROBERTS, THE POOLS, Serpent’s Tail
“THE FEEDBACK FROM SARA MAITLAND (TLC) WAS INVALUABLE AND GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE TO BEGIN CONSIDERING MYSELF AS A WRITER.”
VALERIE MASON JOHN, THE BANANA KID, British Association for Adopting and Fostering
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