TLC Free Reads 2023
If you’re a writer living in the South West of England but are finding it financially difficult to progress further then TLC’s Free Reads could be for you. You’ll need to decide which kind of feedback suits you best, complete the application formed linked below, then e-mail it to info@literatureworks.org.uk by 31st December 2023.
Through this Arts Council England-funded scheme, Literature Works can offer low-income writers the opportunity to get free professional, structured, constructive feedback on their writing via The Literary Consultancy, the UK’s leading editorial consultancy. A critical assessment of all or part of your work could really help you progress and the scheme is open to all serious writers in the South West area who are on low incomes (see below for what counts as a ‘low income’).
This is a competitive process and eligible applicants will be selected based on artistic merit. Literature Works will select candidates through assessing samples of your work and will request further manuscript submission from the selected writers. The Free Reads scheme particularly welcomes applications from writers belonging to groups currently under-represented in publishing including disabled writers, neurodivergent writers, Black, Asian, and Global Majority writers, and members of the LGBQT+ community.
Who is TLC?
Established in 1996 as the first service of its kind, The Literary Consultancy (TLC) offers a range of services for writers including manuscript assessment, mentoring, and events. TLC services are available to all writers, at all stages of development, writing in English. TLC has helped hundreds of writers on to publication, but its main aim is to support writers developing their work and honing their writing craft.
What are TLC Free Reads?
Subject to eligibility and a selection process, each work will be carefully matched to one of TLC’s 80+ professional readers, and writers can expect to receive feedback in the form of a written critique. The notes you receive are intended to help you develop your writing further.
The scheme is open to writers across all forms and genres.
We can offer Manuscript Assessments, Submission Package Reports and Editor One-to-Ones. Click below to see how these differ and decide which would be right for you.
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A manuscript assessment will help you understand where your work currently sits in relation to the commercial literary market place, and offer practical developmental advice for next steps.
Find out if a Manuscript Assessment is suitable for you by clicking here.
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For this service, TLC will match the writer with a TLC Industry Editor who will read their first 8,000 words, synopsis, and ‘Dear Agent’ letter, providing them a written report and mark-up or commentary on the submission material.
This service is for writers who have a completed manuscript and are looking to refine and polish their submission to maximise their chances of success.
Find out if a Submission Package Report is suitable for you by clicking here.
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TLC are also offering editor one-to-ones. For post-feedback support, trouble-shooting, or generating ideas, writers can book in a one-hour session with a TLC Editor.
One-to-ones are also popular with writers who have had an editorial service and need post-feedback support. TLC will provide you with goal-setting worksheets and a recording of the your session, so you can watch back at any time. You will have one hour with your editor plus one hour of prep time where your editor reads up to 2,500 words (or the equivalent in poetry/script/treatment).
Find out if an editor one-to-one is suitable for you by clicking here.
Please note: If you are offered a Free Read, you are gaining access to TLC’s standard manuscript assessment services on a bursary basis. To read more about TLC’s services, click here.
‘The scheme allows hard-working but isolated writers access to truthful and expert assessments of their work, and guidance about where to take it next. It does what friends, other writing group members, your partner or the dog can’t do. What no one else can, in practice, do for most of us. It’s irreplaceable and invaluable. I’m grateful for the opportunity and the feedback and encouragement I received is priceless. I have gained so much confidence because of my feedback and I was taught so many valuable things which I will continue to apply in the future. To also be given this opportunity given my current financial situation is just an amazing. Thank you.’
If you are interested in applying, please read the below details carefully and complete the downloadable application form, then e-mail to info@literatureworks.org.uk.
Submission package report
This service is for writers who have a completed manuscript and are looking to refine and polish their submission to maximise their chances of success.
Find out if a Submission Package is suitable for you by clicking here.
one-to-One
TLC are also offering editor one-to-ones. For post-feedback support, trouble-shooting, or generating ideas, writers can book in a one-hour session with a TLC Editor.
One-to-ones are also popular with writers who have had an editorial service and need post-feedback support. TLC will provide you with goal-setting worksheets and a recording of the your session, so you can watch back at any time. You will have one hour with your editor plus one hour of prep time where your editor reads up to 2,500 words (or the equivalent in poetry/script/treatment).
Find out if an editor one-to-one is suitable for you by clicking here.
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Deadline: 5pm on Sunday 31st December 2023. We will not be making selections before this.
Selected writers will be notified by Friday 19th January 2024.
Selected writers must submit their final manuscripts to Literature Works for TLC assessment by Friday 2nd February 2024.
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Please submit, via email to info@literatureworks.org.uk:
- Your completed application form
- A one-page covering letter stating why a Free Read would be useful to you at this stage in your career as a writer and addressing your qualification in the low- income criteria.
- A one page synopsis of your work
- A sample of the work you want to be assessed by TLC (max 75 lines of poetry, max 3 pages for prose, max 10 pages for scripts). All submissions must be typewritten and (excluding poetry) should be double-spaced, in a 12 pt font, and printed on one side of the A4 page.
- Paperwork pertaining to low income criteria (qualifying paper work is outlined in the application form, low-income, as defined by TLC, is outlined below.)
- Please note you cannot apply for a FREE Read two years in a row.
Please note:
- ‘Regional writing partner’ should be listed as Literature Works (South West).
- ‘Submission length’ refers to the length of your final submission IF you are selected for a Free Read award.
- You should be able to type directly into the application form once you have downloaded it.
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Current UK government guidelines suggest that low-income (household) equals 60% of the median household income. This is only a rule of thumb, but is a helpful guideline when assessing applications. According to the latest figures this would put the national low-income threshold at roughly £18,000 per annum income, with the London low-income threshold £23,000 per annum and below. For the purposes of the Free Reads scheme we are referring to earnings in the last full financial year.
There are some helpful calculations here to show how these margins are measured by the Government across the country. If you are a full-time student or pensioner, or in receipt of any kind of Universal Credit, you are eligible to apply for a TLC Free Read. You may also submit HMRC self-assessment paperwork to show you are low-earning if self-employed and not in receipt of income support.
TLC want to be able to provide the scheme to those who are looking to develop their writing in the wake of the pandemic and whose financial circumstances might have been affected by the pandemic. If you believe you are eligible on this basis, you can submit a one-paragraph statement outlining their circumstances. This information is completely confidential, but is a necessary requirement of TLC’s funding relationship with ACE, to show that the scheme is genuinely serving those most in need. You can find out storage of personal information in the privacy policy here.
