Genesis Emerging Writers’ Programme

 Full details 

The annual Genesis Emerging Writers’ Programme covers fiction, non-fiction and poetry and includes bursaries, mentoring, peer support and an event at London’s longest-running literary festival.

Applications for the 2025-2026 programme are now open until 30 June 2025.

The programme is open to emerging writers of any background, over 18 years of age and living in the UK with no more than three years’ experience of being published, who feel they would benefit from the support and insight of a more established writer, peer support sessions and opportunities to meet with industry professionals. 

Applicants should be working, or planning to work, on a specific project, with the aim of publication, and should be committed to participating fully in all sessions offered by the programme.

The programme offers the following benefits:

• Fifteen hours of one-on-one mentorship with an established writing mentor
• A bursary of up to £1,500 to support the completion of research, residential writing time, childcare or other costs related to completing the writing project
• Scheduled peer support sessions
• Group seminars run by writing experts
• Meetings with agents, publishers and other industry professionals
• A speaking opportunity at Jewish Book Week 2026, held at Kings Place, London

The Programme runs from 1 September 2025 to 31 July 2026. Grants will be made to successful applications on receipt of bank details. The programme of mentorship is designed to take place online and/or in person, depending on the preference of the selected writer and their mentor. Group sessions are designed to take place online so that the programme is accessible to all.

Applications close at 11.59pm UK time on 30 June 2025.

Please read through the following Application Guidelines (including eligibility requirements) carefully before you submit your application. If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact Sarah Fairbairn on emergingwriters@jewishliteraryfoundation.co.uk

You will find a link to the application form at the bottom of this page.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Application Guidelines

These guidelines will help you decide whether you are eligible for the Programme and will guide you in preparing a complete application. Please read the submission instructions carefully before completing your application.

Eligibility

1. The Genesis Emerging Writers Programme is open to anyone aged 18 or over (as of 6 May 2025).
2. Applicants must be resident in the UK for the duration of the programme.
3. This Programme is for emerging writers. We define an emerging writer as someone who has no more than three years’ experience of being published in magazines, journals, online or by a publisher, and who has had no more than one book or collection published by a major publisher or large independent publisher. Publishing experience in a genre unrelated to the submitted project will not be taken into account.
4. The Programme is open to writers of the following genres

• Poetry
• Long and short form fiction
• Long and short form non-fiction

5. Applicants must be committed to making use of the resources offered by the Genesis Emerging Writers Programme including:

• use of the bursary for the purposes approved in the application process;
• use of the mentorship offered by the programme in the development of the project detailed in the application process
• participation in the peer support and networking sessions offered by the programme
• participation in all masterclasses and seminars offered by the programme

6. Applicants must be planning to work on a specific project or projects whilst on the programme, with the aim of publication.
7. Previously unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to reapply with updated projects.
8. Staff and trustees of the Jewish Literary Foundation and of the Genesis Foundation are not eligible to apply.

Applications must be submitted in accordance with the submission guidelines. We reserve the right to disqualify any submissions that do not fully comply. If you have any questions relating to your eligibility or if you are unsure, for any reason, whether you would be able to participate in the Programme, please contact Sarah Fairbairn on emergingwriters@jewishliteraryfoundation.co.uk

Selection

1. Applicants will be assessed on the strength and potential of their writing. Commitment to full participation in the Programme will also be taken into consideration. We are particularly interested in how this specific programme might help applicants develop their work.
2. We will be looking for a diverse range of projects, genres and writing styles when selecting the cohort of Emerging Writers.
3. The Emerging Writers Programme can accommodate up to 10 writers
4. Applicants will be selected anonymously by a panel of readers.
5. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, of any or no faith, and any age upwards of 18.

Submissions

To apply, you must fully complete the online form which asks for:

• Your personal/contact details
• A little about you and your writing project, including a personal statement, why you are applying for the programme, a very brief synopsis of the project you intend to work on throughout the Programme and the genre of your project.
• An uploaded sample of your writing, up to 1200 words or 5 pages of poetry, from the same project or in the same genre. Please make sure your name is not on the document as your writing sample will be judged anonymously. Please check headers/footers etc.
• An uploaded budget for up to £1,500 of funding to support your writing in the project you intend to work on throughout the Programme. Please note we will not approve budget requests for the purchase of laptops, tablets, mobile telephones or other technological equipment. Click here to view an example budget for your reference.

All writing samples must be uploaded as Word documents or PDFs. Please do not send documents in Pages or Final Cut as we will not be able to open them. Do not lock your documents for editing as we will need to add your unique application reference to it.

Your writing sample must not exceed the word count of 1200 words or 5 pages of poems. Any samples over the word count will not be considered and your application will be void.

Please do not include CVs as these will be disregarded.

You will be able to save your application and resume another time but, once submitted, your application cannot be altered.

We will only accept one application per person.

Applications must be received by 23.59 UK time on 30 June 2025. You will not be able to submit applications after the deadline.

All work will be treated confidentially and, if not selected, will be destroyed after the application process.

Successful applicants will be contacted by 1 September 2025.

Incomplete applications or applications which do not comply with the guidelines will not be eligible.

Apply Now

About the Genesis Foundation

The Genesis Foundation was founded by John Studzinski CBE in 2001. Over the past 20 years the Foundation has donated more than £20 million to the arts. Through its funding and partnership model, it has enabled opportunities for thousands of young artists in theatre and music, building both their experience and their resilience. Its main focus is on partnerships with leading arts organisations such as the Young Vic, National Theatre, Almeida Theatre, LAMDA and The Sixteen, and on training programmes that equip emerging artists for life as a creative professional.

Emerging Writers Programme Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I have to be Jewish or writing on Jewish themes to apply?

No, you don’t have to have any particular faith or cultural background to apply for the programme. Your writing can be on any topic and does not need to relate to Jewish themes.

• What is the structure of the programme?

Individual mentor contact and group seminars begin in September and run through to the following June. Cohort members will appear at an event on Sunday 8 March 2026 at Jewish Book Week, at Kings Place, London. Travel expenses will be covered by the programme. Agent meetings will take place in May or June of 2026.

• Do I have to be under 30/under 40 to apply?

No, the programme is open to emerging writers of any age, provided you are 18 or older on the date of the programme opening

• I have previously had writing published as part of my work, or I have previously published work in a different genre from that in my application. Am I still eligible to apply?

Yes, for the purposes of the programme we will still consider you an emerging writer if your previous publishing experience was unrelated to your current writing genre. For example, if you have previously published several pieces of academic writing or historical research, you will still be eligible to apply under the fiction or poetry categories, or for non-fiction if you are writing a memoir or other piece of creative non-fiction not related to your previous work. If you have any questions on your specific publishing experience, please contact Sarah Fairbairn on emergingwriters@jewishliteraryfoundation.co.uk

• How are successful applicants matched with writing mentors?

The Jewish Literary Foundation appoints each year’s mentors through its established network of UK-based authors. Mentors are chosen based on their writing and teaching experience and ability to support an emerging writer in developing their writing project. Mentors are matched with successful applicants in a collaborative process, wherein the suitability of each writing project for each mentor’s strengths and experiences are considered.

• Can I get feedback on my submission if my application is unsuccessful?

Due to the large number of submissions received it is not possible for the Jewish Literary Foundation to produce feedback on any submitted work. All unsuccessful submissions are destroyed following the commencement of the programme and no notes on submissions are held on file.