London Writers Centre is delighted to be partnering with Lutyens & Rubinstein for our latest 1-2-1 feedback opportunity. From Wednesday 16 September 2026, we will be accepting submissions for:
· Crossover fiction
· Bookclub fiction
· Literary fiction
· Historical fiction
· Fantasy
· Crime
Jenny Hewson and Anna Boyce, literary agents at Lutyens & Rubinstein, are offering a maximum of eight 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:
Jenny: 'I’m looking for literary fiction of all stripes with a compelling story and characters you can’t forget at the centre, whether historical fiction which revisits the past from a fresh perspective, or an intergenerational story, or something contemporary. I’m also very much on the lookout for fantasy at the warmer end of the spectrum, and colder, gothic tales in the vein of Turn of the Screw.'
Find out more about Jenny Hewson.
Anna: 'I am looking for contemporary fiction that explores the complexities of modern relationships and actively engages with ideas and the world around us. I am equally keen to find literary fiction with an unusual hook that surprises and delights me, whether that be through speculative elements or unexpected characters and settings. I am also on the look out for crime fiction, especially anything character driven and steeped in atmosphere, I love a small town but would also love to see crime novels set in unusual locations.'
Find out more about Anna Boyce.
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Please note this opportunity is only open to unpublished and unagented writers based in the UK. Apply via Submittable. Only one entry per applicant will be accepted.
We will be open for submissions at 7pm on Wednesday 16 September 2026.
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, a short pitch, 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?), any comparative titles to your project.
· A one-page synopsis (250-300 words)
· 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 hello@londonwriterscentre.org.uk if you need any support with this.
For the writers selected for this opportunity, Jenny and Anna will only be giving feedback on the documents that you submit.
Timeline
· Submissions will open at 7pm on Wednesday 16 September 2026
· The deadline for submissions is 11.59pm on Wednesday 28 October 2026
· Applicants will know the outcome of their submission by Wednesday 16 December 2026 and successful applicants will receive their feedback by the end of February 2027.
· We may do a follow up blog post with the writers who receive feedback to go live in Spring 2027.
If you have any queries about your application or this opportunity, please get in touch with hello@londonwriterscentre.org.uk.
About Free Reads Free Reads offers writers on low incomes the opportunity to receive professional, editorial feedback on their writing, alongside other support on their writing journeys.
London Writers Centre is proud to be an official partner for The Literary Consultancy Free Reads scheme. In the last 15 years, we’ve supported more than 100 London writers with receiving professional, editorial feedback via Free Reads. Free Reads is managed by The Literary Consultancy (TLC) and funded by Arts Council England.
What you could receive?
- Manuscript Assessment For writers who have a complete or partially complete manuscript seeking professional editorial feedback. Writers can apply for the chance to have a full or partial read of their manuscript and receive feedback by a TLC reader via an assessment report.
- Submission Package Report For writers who have a completed manuscript, have already had editorial support, and are now looking to polish their submission package before sending it out to agents. Writers can apply for the chance to be matched with a TLC Industry Editor who will read their first 8,000 words, synopsis, and ‘Dear Agent’ letter, providing them with a written report and mark-up or commentary on the submission material.
- Editor One-to-Ones Writers can apply for the chance to have a one-hour session with a TLC Editor for troubleshooting and to generate ideas. One-to-ones are also popular with writers who have had an editorial service and need post-feedback support, or who need motivation to get through writer’s block. The writer has one hour with their editor plus one hour of prep time, where your editor will read up to 2,500 words (or the equivalent in poetry/script/treatment).
- Power Hour A one hour writing career consultancy call with TLC Director and coach, Aki Schilz.
Please Note: We will allocate these services based on the support we think will be most useful to you at this point in your writing journey.
Who is eligible for a Free Read via London Writers Centre? The scheme is open to London-based writers of fiction, non-fiction, short stories, poetry, children’s fiction including picture books, play scripts and screenplays. Free Reads particularly welcomes applications from writers belonging to groups currently under-represented in publishing including disabled writers, Black, Asian and Global Majority writers, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
To apply for a Free Read via London Writers Centre, you must live in London AND be on a low income. Low income is defined by one of the following criteria:
- You are in receipt of Job Seeker’s Allowance, Disability Benefit, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Universal Credit or Child Benefits
- You earn up to or less than the London Living Wage of £14.80 per hour or a £28,860 annual salary
- You are a full-time student
- You are aged 60 or over*, with an annual income of £23,000 or less, including pensions and other forms of income.
If you identify as being on low-income but do not meet one of the criteria listed above, please get in touch. We can evaluate applicants’ eligibility on a case-by-case basis.
Key deadlines London Writer Centre's Free Reads applications are open from noon on Wednesday 29 July 2026 until noon on Tuesday 6 October 2026.
What do you need to submit in your application?
- The first 1,000 words of your writing if it is prose fiction or non-fiction, or up to 20 pages if your writing is poetry or script writing
- A complete synopsis of the written work submitted. The synopsis must clearly show your story’s outline and should not exceed 1,000 words. Not sure how to do that? We strongly recommend that you check out our Pocket Guide to Writing a Synopsis before sending yours in: https://www.londonwriterscentre.org.uk/library/a-pocket-guide-to-writing-a-synopsis/
- Documentation that shows you meet the criteria to apply for a Free Read. This may be in the form of a benefit letter, payslip, HMRC self-assessment paperwork/tax statement, confirmation of your student status or a pension. Please check out our FAQs for more information on this.
- A completed TLC Free Reads Scheme form (available to download here as a PDF and here as a Word document). For those wishing to apply for a submissions package report or an editor one-to-one, please complete this form. Where we ask you to write a brief statement in support of your application, please state which of the offers you are applying for, why this would be beneficial for you and your writing, and why the time is right for you to access this opportunity. On the form, where it asks if you’d like to receive information from ‘Your regional Writing Partner’ – that's referring to us, Spread The Word.
If you have questions, read the FAQs. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, please get in touch with Maureen Stapleton at admin@londonwriterscentre.org.uk and she will help you.
We look forward to receiving your submission.