TLC: ACE Free Reads

The National Centre for Writing partners with The Literary Consultancy and Arts Council England each year to run TLC: ACE Free Reads.

The Free Reads scheme is for low-income writers resident in England, writing in English, who would not be able to afford TLC’s commercial fees (the commercial service is open to all), and prioritises those from under-represented backgrounds (writers of colour, disabled writers, LGBTQ writers and other under-represented groups). You can submit prose (fiction or non-fiction), poetry, short stories, children’s picture books or a script/screenplay (including treatments).

Current UK government guidelines suggest that low-income (household) equals 60% of the median household income. According to the latest figures this would put the national low-income threshold at roughly £18,000 per annum income. If you are not sure what low-income means, the Citizens Advice Bureau has some useful guidelines here, and 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. You may also submit HMRC self-assessment paperwork to show you are low-earning if you are self-employed and not in receipt of income support. If none of these apply but you feel you are still eligible, you may be asked to submit a signed declaration outlining your circumstances. This information will be anonymised and is 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.

If at any stage you have any issues with the application process, require individual support with it, or require any of the information in a different format, please get in touch with TLC directly on info@literaryconsultancy.co.uk.

Please read the application guidelines carefully before submission.

How to Apply

Applications are now closed.

Successful applicants will be asked to provide their full piece for assessment by Monday 28 March 2022.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us by email learning@nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk or phone 01603 877177.

Application criteria

1. The National Centre for Writing is the Regional Literature Development Agency for the East of England. You must be based in the East of England (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk or Suffolk) to apply for the TLC Free Reads scheme through the National Centre for Writing. If you fall outside of this region, visit the TLC website to find a regional writing partner near you.
2. You must be a writer on low income to qualify for a Free Read. Current UK government guidelines suggest that low-income (household) equals 60% of the median household income. According to the latest figures this would put the national low-income threshold at roughly £18,000 per annum income.
3. You may not apply for the TLC Free Reads scheme two years in a row.

We highly recommend reading the FAQs section on this website before making your application.