We are currently seeking London-based artists and arts organisations to apply to be part of the Deptford Literature Festival programme. Taking place on Saturday 28 March 2026 at various locations around Deptford, Deptford Literature Festival will feature performances, readings, workshops and more, with activities led by local writers and creatives. 

We have 3 open commissions of up to £750 available to writers, artists, arts and community organisations based in London to deliver activity as part of the festival; with a preference for people and organisations based in Deptford and the borough of Lewisham, or delivering activity with strong connections to Deptford or Lewisham. 

Commissions could include: writing workshops, readings, community engagement, performances, talks, walks, participatory sessions, cross-arts activity, local heritage activity, or whatever literature activity you think will connect with our audiences.

The only stipulations are that activity takes place on Saturday 28 March at the festival and is literature-related. We also have a preference toward artists and organisations based in Deptford and Lewisham, and/or for activity with a clear connection to the area.

To apply, please send a proposal of no more than 2 sides of A4 OR an audio or video file of no longer than 8 minutes. 

The proposal should include:

• Brief information about you/your organisation
• Links to examples of your previous work
• An outline of your idea and how you plan to deliver it
• A brief budget outlining your costs/fees
• Planned location / venue for your activity and whether this is confirmed
• Any technical considerations
• Description of how your activity meets the remit of the festival
• Audience(s) you think will engage with your activity
   

The Festival will be able to offer:

• Commission fee of up to £750.
• Space at Deptford Lounge to host commissioned activity. This would be free of charge, and not need to be included in your budget. Alternatively, your activity can take place in another location/s in Deptford. If this is the case, please let us know whether you have approached the venue/s to confirm if they’d be willing to participate, and ensure you factor any venue hire costs into your £750 budget.
• Marketing and communications support through the festival's marketing channels, mailing list and a festival programme. 
• Ticketing and booking management.
• Staff/volunteers to support audience management during the event itself.

Deadline: 10am, Monday 1 December 

Commissions will be decided by a panel of the festival producers and applicants will hear back by Friday 12 December. The festival producers reserve the right to amend the terms of the open call depending on funds available and other operational considerations.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact festival@spreadtheword.org.uk

Spread the Word is pleased to be partnering with the Colwill & Peddle Literary Agency for our latest 1-2-1 feedback opportunity. From Monday 3 November 2025, we will be accepting submissions for:

• Mystery
• Romance
• Horror

Charlotte Colwill and Donna Greaves, literary agents at Colwill & Peddle Literary Agency, are offering a maximum of 8 short feedback sessions for submissions by writers from underrepresented backgrounds based in the UK.

Each agent will be offering up to four 20-minute sessions by phone or video.

What the agents looking for:

Charlotte is looking for romance (YA, adult, crossover and LGBT) including romantasy, crime and thriller including cosy, procedural, and domestic thrillers, and horror of any kinds. I love new twists on old themes, clever concepts, twisty plots, unusual perspectives, and writing that is commercial and full of personality. Above all, a story and characters that really make me feel something.

You can visit Charlotte’s agent page here.

Donna is looking for adult commercial, book club and accessible literary fiction with a mystery at its heart. She is particularly drawn to voice-led narratives, unconventional settings, humour and rich storytelling that interweaves cultural, political or historical context. She will consider crime that fits the bill and possibly fantasy and sci-fi if it has commercial, crossover potential – in other words, books that can be enjoyed by a wide audience.

You can visit Donna’s agent page here.

We define writers from backgrounds under-represented in publishing as those who:

• From a lower socio-economic background as defined by the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion guidance
• Have experienced a lack of academic and/or vocational training opportunities – i.e. have not been able to study/train to their full potential due to low income, ill health, being a carer etc.
• Are or have been a carer
• Have experienced homelessness
• Are a single parent
• Have a disability
• Are Black, Asian, or Global Majority
• Are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community

How to apply  

Please note this opportunity is only open to unpublished and un-agented writers based in the UK. Apply via Submittable. Only one entry per applicant will be accepted.

Apply via submittable. We will be open for submissions at midday on Monday 3 November 2025.

To apply, you will need to upload 3 documents:

• A covering letter of 1-2 pages that includes: A little information about yourself and your motivations for your project, how you meet the criteria for this opportunity and a summary of your writing endeavours to date (e.g. Have you taken part in writing development opportunities? Have you mainly been writing on your own at home?)
• A one-page synopsis
• An extract from your project (3,000 words maximum)

If you are a disabled writer, there is the option to submit visual or audio submissions. Please get in touch with fisola@spreadtheword.org.uk if you need any support with this.

Charlotte and Donna will be giving feedback on the documents that you submit.

Timeline 

• Submissions will open at midday on Monday 3 November 2025
• The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Tuesday 2 December 2025
• Applicants will know the outcome of their submission by Tuesday 3 February 2026 and successful applicants will receive their feedback by the end of April 2026.

If you have any queries about your application or this opportunity, please get in touch with fisola@spreadtheword.org.uk

About the Agents 

About Charlotte Colwill

Charlotte began her career as a bookseller at shops including Waterstones, Daunt Books and Foyles, before beginning her agenting career at Tibor Jones and Jo Unwin Literary Agency, before launching Colwill & Peddle with Kay Peddle in 2022. She represented a broad range of authors, writing children's books, genre fiction, and non-fiction, and is always on the lookout for more.

About Donna Greaves 

Donna is a literary agent from South East London. She joined Colwill and Peddle in September 2025, prior to this she worked as editorial manager at Jo Unwin Literary Agency. She represents Sunday Times bestselling author Lucy Easthope and is building a list in commercial, book club and accessible literary fiction and narrative non-fiction.