The Women’s Prize Trust, in collaboration with Curtis Brown Creative and Curtis Brown, has unveiled the shortlist for the Discoveries 2024 writing development prize, per curtisbrowncreative.co.uk. Out of nearly 3,000 submissions, six unpublished novels-in-progress from women writers residing in the UK and Ireland have been selected for this year’s shortlist.
The shortlisted novels-in-progress cover a wide range of genres, including fantasy, contemporary and historical fiction, social realism, societal commentary, coming-of-age stories, and contemporary romance. From monsters lurking in the dark to real-life monstrous figures of the 1970s, from stories of lost love to the complexities of open marriages, and from intense co-dependent friendships to the unexpected reappearance of troubled pasts, the shortlist promises a diverse and captivating array of narratives.
The judging panel, chaired by novelist and playwright Kate Mosse, along with Jess Molloy, Anna Davis, Natasha Brown, and Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, had the challenging task of selecting the shortlist from the multitude of entries.
Discoveries 2024 shortlisted writers, from top left: Niamh Connolly, Alison Dudeney, Alice Fletcher, Zeynep Kazmaz, Georgia Moorhouse and Nalisha VansiaKate Mosse, Chair of the Discoveries Judging Panel, expressed her excitement about the shortlist, stating, “The shortlist is a showcase of how women writers are embracing different genres and forms of storytelling. From gothic fantasy to historical reimaginings, from Britain in the 1970s to Ireland in the present day, the world of art to complex relationships in their complicated glory, these six writers are truly remarkable.”
The shortlisted writers will each be offered a mentoring session with a Curtis Brown agent and free enrollment on a Curtis Brown Creative six-week online course. Additionally, they, along with 10 other writers longlisted for Discoveries 2024, will participate in a bespoke online Discoveries Writing Development course this summer.
The winner of the Discoveries 2024 Prize will be announced on May 23rd and will receive an offer of representation from Curtis Brown, along with a £5,000 prize. One promising writer from the shortlist will be named the Discoveries Scholar and will receive a free scholarship to attend a three-month Writing Your Novel course with Curtis Brown Creative.
Here are the six talented writers shortlisted for the 2024 Discoveries Prize:
- Niamh Connolly – “Game Theory”
- Alison Dudeney – “Marsh End – The Darkness That Follows”
- Alice Fletcher – “The Hungry Dark”
- Zeynep Kazmaz – “Viscid Residue”
- Georgia Moorhouse – “Henry”
- Nalisha Vansia – “Not This Again”
Each writer brings a unique voice and perspective to the literary landscape, and their novels-in-progress promise to captivate readers with their compelling narratives.
