Morley College has launched a new prize for unpublished writers of colour. The annual prize jointly presented by Morley College London and the Rachel Mills Literary Agency, awarded to a previously unpublished aspiring authors of colour.

The prize is intended to nurture and provide opportunities for aspiring novelists of colour, promote diverse fiction across the broader literary landscape of Britain and continue Morley College’s long history of educational excellence, community engagement, and support for social justice.

The prize is intended to nurture and provide opportunities for aspiring novelists of colour, and the college would like to reach as many people as possible.

Prize co-founder Nelle Andrew, Literary Agent at RML and Agent of the Year at the British Book Awards 2021 says: “The illustrious, wise and supremely talented Toni Morrison once wrote: “If you are free then you need to free somebody else. If you have power then it is your job to empower somebody else.”

The winner will receive a £500 prize. However, the real reward here is those shortlisted will be given individual editorial consultations with an agent on their work. In addition to the chance to ask any questions about the agent/editorial process and how to secure an agent. There few opportunities available to budding authors. Advice and connections which for those without access might mean the difference in achieving a career as a writer.

The aim of this prize is to discover and empower the next pool of talent from diverse British backgrounds. To continue and reignite the rich cultural history we have of diverse authors who defined and distinguished the writers - from Octavia E Spencer to Zadie Smith; from Andrea Levy to Sara Collins and Candice Carty-Williams.

Click here for more information about the Morley College prize.