Discoveries “changed my life as a writer”: the groundbreaking programme for new voices from the Women’s Prize Trust launches for 2027.
London, 15 September 2026: Today, the Women’s Prize Trust – the registered charity building a better future by championing women’s writing – has opened submissions for its transformative flagship writer development programme, Discoveries.
Discoveries – now in its seventh year, and run in partnership with Audible, the Curtis Brown Group, and the Curtis Brown Creative writing school – is a crucial resource for inspiring and supporting new talent to write their first novels, with a focus on ‘promise, not polish’.
Free to enter, unagented and unpublished women writers in the UK and Ireland are invited to submit the first 10,000 words of a novel for adult readers for the chance to receive an offer of literary agent representation and a bursary of £5,000. This is alongside access to a bespoke creative writing course, personalised mentorships and workshops, practical advice and industry insight, a curated programme of outreach events and online content, as well as becoming part of a highly supportive and active writing community.
The programme is designed by the Women’s Prize Trust to address the specific challenges that women face as writers, and forms part of the charity’s commitment to provide a platform for novelists currently underrepresented in the UK publishing industry. In 2026, 76% of entries were from writers outside of London, with record submissions from underrepresented communities within publishing, including writers who identify as disabled, working-class and Global Majority.
Claire Shanahan, Executive Director of the Women’s Prize Trust said: “A crucial part of our mission at the Women’s Prize Trust, the charity building a better future by championing women’s writing, is inspiring and supporting the new voices of tomorrow, particularly those who haven’t had access to or opportunity for a creative life. As we enter the seventh year of our flagship writing development programme – Discoveries – we are so proud of our alumni’s hard work and ever-growing list of debut publications. It’s a huge privilege to play a part in bringing their immense talents to a wider audience, along with the collaborative efforts of our incredible writers, judges, partners, and champions who provide immense practical and pastoral support. We are thrilled to open this year’s submissions, and present the accompanying programme of workshops, panels, webinars, and more that we hope will continue to draw more writers together.”
- Submissions are open from today through to 11 January 2027, at the link below.
The 2027 judging panel will be chaired by Kate Mosse CBE FRSL, the international bestselling writer and Founder Director of the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction. Mosse is joined by bestselling novelist, screenwriter and 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlisted author Oyinkan Braithwaite (My Sister, The Serial Killer; Cursed Daughters); award-winning author and former litigation lawyer Ela Lee (Jaded; Minbak); Curtis Brown literary agent Ciara Finan; and Founder and Managing Director of Curtis Brown Creative Anna Davis.
Kate Mosse CBE FRSL, writer and chair of judges said: “It has been a great pleasure to chair the Discoveries judging panel since we first launched the programme six years ago. Each year brings a new crop of inspirational, varied, topical, exciting debut voices – women of all ages writing, dreaming, sharing their stories and their imaginations. New writing is the life-blood of our industry – our 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction winner was a debut novelist – and my fellow judges and I can’t wait to get reading.”
Anna Davis, Curtis Brown Creative, and Ciara Finan, Curtis Brown said: “Whether you’re nurturing the spark of a new idea or returning to a project that’s been on the back burner, now is the time to take that leap and enter Discoveries! The first step is having a story you want to tell and the persistence to tell it. And we aren’t looking for perfection or polish, we are searching for promise first and foremost. What we would love to see in this year’s entries is creativity and a voice that stays with us. As we enter the seventh year of Discoveries, we are thrilled to see our community growing and more and more authors being published, but we are just as excited to read this year’s submissions and uncover the next generation of exceptional storytellers!”
The Discoveries success stories continue:
Discoveries has inspired thousands of women to share their writing for the first time, with over 16,000 entries since the programme began in 2020. Out of the 96 writers selected in the first six years of Discoveries:
Eleven alumni have published their debut novels (in order of publication): – Olivia Ford (2021 Longlist), Emma van Straaten (2021 Winner), Elizabeth Kuligowski (2021 Longlist), Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin (2022 Shortlist), Genevieve Marenghi (2021 Longlist), India-Rose Bower (2023 Longlist), Ruth Rosengarten
(2022 Shortlist), Rue Baldry (2021 Longlist), Rebecca Taylor McKay (2022 Longlist), Rukky Brume (2021 Longlist), and Lorna Elcock (2021 Shortlist).
– Publishers include Little, Brown, Michael Joseph, Merky Books, Dialogue, Manilla Press, Dead Ink Books, and more.
– Seven more alumni have their debut titles confirmed for publication: – Georgia Moorhouse, Imaginary Forces (2024 Shortlist) / Manilla Press, Bonnier (January 2027).
- – Tara O’Sullivan, The Quiet Ones (2022 Longlist) / The Borough Press, HarperCollins (March 2027).
- – Niamh Connolly, We Go Way Back (2024 Winner) / Hodder & Stoughton, Hachette (April 2027).
- – Alice Trew, The Hungry Dark (2024 Shortlist) / Gollancz (September 2027).
- – Beena Nadeem, Is This What You Call Love? (2025 Longlist) / Akan Books, HarperCollins (February 2028)
- – Claire O’Connor, The World Is Ours (2022 Longlist) / Weidenfeld & Nicholson, HarperCollins (2028)
- – One to be announced
– 34% (33) women are signed with literary agents.
– 19% (18) women have secured publishing deals for their debut novels.
Niamh Connolly, winner of Discoveries 2024 and author of We Go Way Back publishing from Hodder on 22 April 2027, said: “Joining the Discoveries community changed my life as a writer. When I was chosen as the winner, it was as if I was handed that ever-elusive thing called confidence – I can’t tell you how incredibly invaluable that was to me at that stage, half-way through the first draft of We Go Way Back. The voice of self-doubt can be very loud, and I will forever be thankful to the Women’s Prize Trust and Discoveries for quietening that doubting voice. The programme has also given me an army of champions: writing is a solitary occupation, and so having the kindness, warmth, guidance and support of the Discoveries community is such a gift. What the Women’s Prize Trust does for emerging writers, and the wider writing and reading community, is truly groundbreaking.”
Aurelie de Troyer, Head of International Content at Audible said: “The Women’s Prize Trust’s Discoveries programme embodies everything we believe in at Audible: championing diverse voices, removing barriers to creative opportunity, and building supportive communities for storytellers. We’re incredibly proud to see so many Discoveries alumni going on to publish their debut novels, and we’re excited to continue supporting the next generation of women writers through this transformative programme.”
