Now Open: The Queen's Commonwealth Writing Competition 2026
royalcwsociety.org – Thursday March 5, 2026
Theme: Common Ground: Better Together
The Commonwealth is one of the most diverse communities on earth. It stretches across continents and oceans, linking bustling cities, remote villages, small island states and vast nations. It encompasses countless languages, cultures, climates and lived experiences.
And yet, despite these differences, there is common ground.
The 2026 theme, Common Ground: Better Together, invites young writers to explore what unites us across the Commonwealth and how collaboration, understanding and shared purpose help us move forward together.
It’s about the connections that surprise us. The values that anchor us. The shared challenges that call us to act. And the hopes for the future.
Expert advice on how to a write a children's book
greatbritishlife.co.uk – Thursday March 5, 2026
Cheshire has produced generations of award-winning children’s authors, from Lewis Carroll to contemporary luminaries such as Alan Garner. Now, in World Book Day month, we discover what it takes to pen a hit for young readers.
For me, it’s Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree. My daughters opt for Dame Lynley Dodd’s unlikely canine hero, Hairy Maclary. Friends and family suggest other titles – Shirley Hughes’ We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Lauren Child’s Charlie and Lola, Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo, Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid, JK Rowling’s
Harry Potter. They’re all stories that endure – enthralling and inspiring young readers and making indelible marks on fresh imaginations in a way fiction rarely does as we mature.
In Warrington, international best-selling author Curtis Jobling traces his success back to childhood inspirations.
New Literary Agent Listing: Ariele Fredman
firstwriter.com – Wednesday March 4, 2026
Handles character‑driven commercial and upmarket fiction with a strong sense of place, including family drama, coming‑of‑age stories, mystery, thriller, suspense, romance, and novels exploring women’s inner lives that balance commercial appeal with literary depth. Seeks emotionally resonant narratives with tension among characters and plots that deliver a powerful final twist.
CASH PRIZE Of £5,000: Apply for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2027
globalsouthopportunities.com – Saturday February 28, 2026
Writers across the Commonwealth are invited to prepare for the 2027 edition of the prestigious Commonwealth Foundation Commonwealth Short Story Prize, an annual literary award that celebrates outstanding unpublished short fiction. Recognised globally, the prize offers a powerful platform for both emerging and established writers to showcase their storytelling talent on an international stage.
With a top cash award of £5,000, publication opportunities, and worldwide recognition, the 2027 Commonwealth Short Story Prize presents a valuable opportunity for writers seeking to expand their literary careers.
About the Commonwealth Short Story Prize
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is designed to spotlight exceptional storytelling from across the Commonwealth’s diverse member states. The competition is structured around five regional categories:
New Literary Agent Listing: Albert Lee
firstwriter.com – Friday February 27, 2026
Represents platform‑driven nonfiction and fiction with an emphasis on outsider voices, character‑driven storytelling, bold personalities on the page, and distinctive big‑idea books offering a clear value proposition for readers. Works across a broad range of writers, thinkers, journalists, and cultural figures, and also develops publishing programs for major children’s brands.
Prize worth £12k for young writers launched with Caitlin Moran mentorship
birminghammail.co.uk – Thursday February 26, 2026
The BSME Young Writers Prize is open to those aged 18-25 in the UK, offering a bursary, year-long mentorship and work experience with top editors
A budding writer aged 18-25 in the UK could be set to become the next big name in journalism, thanks to a newly launched competition offering a £12,000 bursary, a year of mentorship from celebrated author and columnist Caitlin Moran, and work experience alongside some of the country's most prominent editors.
The brand-new accolade, established in partnership with the British Society of Magazine Editors, seeks to champion those from underrepresented backgrounds who lack the financial means or industry connections to forge a career in media.
Hopeful entrants should submit original work through the BSME website, which can include a feature, review, opinion piece, column, personal essay, or a piece of creative writing drawn from a real-life experience or event.
New MeetCute Storyteller Prize will offer winner literary representation
firstwriter.com – Thursday February 26, 2026
The MeetCute Romance Book Festival and Kate Nash Literary Agency are launching a new competition for writers of romance fiction with an offer of literary representation for the winner.
"We are searching for the next big voice in romance fiction", said literary agent Kate Nash, "so we are delighted to be partnering with MeetCute for this new prize. It is different from other literary prizes in that the winner will be offered literary representation on the spot, no ifs or buts. We know from past experience we can spot the stars of the future so we will be offering representation based on one chapter. I also think it's important to say in the current climate that all the entries will be human-read by literary agents, no AI involved."
The MeetCute Festival brings together readers and writers of romance fiction in the glorious open air setting of Home Farm, Elstree in Hertfordshire. Coming into its third year in 2026, the fast-growing festival takes place on Saturday 4th of July when the competition winners will be announced.
New Publisher Listing: House of Riviera Books
firstwriter.com – Thursday February 26, 2026
Publishes commercial fiction designed to offer escapist reading, with a focus on romance and women’s fiction. Favours seasonal settings including Christmas stories and summer beach reads. Not seeking thrillers, crime, science fiction, historical fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, or poetry. Open to complete manuscripts only.
Saffron Dodd Steps Up as Literary Agent at ASH Literary After ‘Stellar’ Performance
firstwriter.com – Tuesday February 24, 2026
Saffron Dodd’s promotion to literary agent at ASH Literary marks a significant and well‑earned step in her career, reflecting both her growing influence in children’s and YA publishing and the agency’s confidence in her editorial and client‑building instincts. The announcement, reported in The Bookseller, highlights that she has stepped up from her role as associate agent after what the agency described as “a stellar couple of years”.
A milestone in a fast‑rising career
Dodd’s trajectory at ASH Literary has been defined by a clear vision for the kinds of stories she champions. Her promotion signals not only internal recognition but also her expanding presence in the UK publishing landscape, particularly in categories where ASH Literary has built a strong reputation: inclusive, imaginative, and voice‑driven fiction for young readers.
Her work to date has focused on nurturing writers whose stories bring fresh perspectives to children’s and YA literature. The agency’s praise for her recent years suggests she has already contributed meaningfully to client development, submissions, and deal‑making – key indicators of readiness for full agent status.
New Literary Agency Listing: Europa Content
firstwriter.com – Friday February 20, 2026
A boutique literary management and production company based in Brooklyn. Known for pioneering unconventional deals, developing original scripted audio, and helping authors move from book to screen. Maintains a global foreign rights program selling into nearly every territory. Accepts email queries only with the first 25-50 pages of a manuscript.
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