APPRENTICESHIPS NEWS

In its first two years, the scheme has already resulted in a publication and agency interest for five apprentices. In addition, three shortlisted writers are now working with agents and two others have secured Arts Council funding for individual mentoring programmes.

APPRENTICESHIPS 2008
For the third year of the scheme, we received over a record number of applications from all over the country. The standard was particularly high, and we really appreciated the quality, thoroughness and serious intent of all the submissions.

In addition to the four new apprentices listed below, we have also opened up the scheme to selected runners-up. Stage One is now available in the form of a limited number of targeted appraisals, workshops and one-to-ones.

 

THE FINALISTS
We are pleased to announce the four apprenticeships for 2008 have been offered to: -

Sheila Bugler	As Chance Would Have It	London
Lindsay McKrell	The Pirate House	Stirling
Heather Reed	The Rule of the Blood	Glastonbury
Wendy Storer	Ladder to the Moon	Cumbria

 

SHORTLISTED WRITERS
Our panel of experts, which included professional writers and up and coming literary agent Rupert Heath, particularly wanted to commend all ten writers on the shortlist for displaying a high level of creative flair and originality.

General fiction

Julie Farnworth	The Fat Angel	Oxfordshire
Cath Ferguson	The Tale of a Useful Idiot	Glasgow
Clare Hawkins	Passage of Redemption	Essex
Andreas Loisou	The Stealing	London
Roy McFarlane	Somebody’s Daughter	Wolverhampton
Helen Shay	The Fixed Lands	Harrogate
Rhys Timson	Heritage Demolition	Surrey

Children's Fiction

Ian Douglas	The Infinity Trap	Nottingham
Lucy Fry	The Things that Brought Us Here	London
Simon Griffiths	Hasim Khouri & The Lion of Senegal	Surrey

 

FOR WRITERS WHO WERE NOT SHORTLISTED
Many of the submissions were from writers who showed considerable potential but lacked technical skills or a crucial sense of context. The following points have been devised for those seeking a next step.

Research the market. What does your novel have to offer that is not yet available?

Do you have the right material? Is your plot strong enough to sustain interest over the length of a novel?

Brush up on your technical skills. Do you have a clear understanding of narrative viewpoint, i.e. who is telling your story?

Further details of this year’s apprenticeships will be available soon. Over the coming year we will be profiling the successful candidates and following their progress. Information about Apprenticeships 2009 will be available in September 2008.

Thank you for your interest in the scheme.

Good luck with your writing!