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The TLC Free Reads scheme is a national bursary scheme giving free access to TLC’s industry-recommended editorial services and mentoring programme to low-income and otherwise marginalised writers. In this free webinar, come and find out more about how the TLC Free Reads scheme works, where it operates, and how to apply. All writers are very welcome to attend this event which will include:
“This has genuinely been one of the most useful and rewarding opportunities I have received in a decade of professional practice in the arts.”
TLC Free Reads recipient
Funded by Arts Council England and delivered in partnership with 22 regional literature organisations, the TLC Free Reads scheme has so far supported over 2,000 writers. Thanks to our ACE status as a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO), 20% of TLC’s current editorial service provision is bursaried, and around 40% of our programming is offered on a bursary basis, including free membership to our Being A Writer platform, and bursary places on TLC Courses and Events. This is in line with TLC’s longstanding commitment to making sure the literary space is as equitable, inclusive, and accessible as possible.
“The scheme is something I would never have had access to outside of this. Being able to have my work critiqued by a professional has given me confidence and enthusiasm for my work and talents as a writer.”
TLC Free Reads recipient
If you are a writer resident in England on low income or belonging to a marginalised group, you are very welcome. There is absolutely no need to provide any evidence of your status, and if you’re unsure, please attend anyway as we’ll go through the eligibility criteria. Please note that currently the TLC Free Reads scheme is only open to writers ordinarily resident in England, as it is funded by Arts Council England. There is no upper age limit for TLC Free Reads, and you can be at any stage of your writing life. We recognise that writers need support whether they are complete beginners, or veterans who find themselves without firm footing. TLC accepts fiction, non fiction, poetry, short stories, children’s books, and scripts and screenplays. Want to know which regional partner covers your area? You can find a full list here.
This webinar will be hosted on Zoom as a Zoom Webinar. Participants are not visible, but will be able to access the Chat and Q&A functions.
BSL interpretation and captions will be available.
The session will include a small number of slides, all of which will be audio-described and made available to participants ahead of the webinar.
The session will be recorded and available to watch-back. If you have an access requirement not covered here please send us an email at
TLC is grateful to Arts Council England for supporting the Free Reads Scheme. We would like to be able to offer bursaries to as many writers as need them and currently demand significantly outstrips our funded resources. If you would like to contribute to or partner with us to increase the scheme’s reach (in particular to those outside of England), please get in touch at
If you would like to make a direct donation to this scheme, you can do so via this secure link using the reference ‘TLC BURSARY’. We are extremely grateful to donors who have made it possible for us to expand this scheme to particular demographics, and to former clients who ‘pay forwards’ the support they have received. Every contribution is valued.
Please press the RSVP button below. You will be asked to enter your full name, and your email address. You will need to type your email address twice: this is simply to verify it and ensure there are no spelling errors. Then, press ‘finish’. You will receive an automated confirmation, and nearer the time we will send you your unique login link.
