Levenshulme Old Library is recruiting two emerging writers for Ghosts at the Old Library, our winter ghost stories project.
This is a paid mentoring and training opportunity aimed at two early-stage writer aged 18+ who is interested in developing their short fiction.
The Project
Ghost stories at Christmas have long been an oral storytelling tradition, with historic reports of tales told around a winter fire going back to mediaeval times. This became more established thanks to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and continued into the TV era with A Ghost Story for Christmas, a series of late night television films broadcast on the BBC.This Christmas Levenshulme Old Library is commissioning a number of original ghost stories for a series of atmospheric performances in our historic former Carnegie library building in South Manchester.
The completed stories will also be published and released digitally. This is the second in our Ghosts at the Old Library series – you can find information about last year’s project here.
The Opportunity
Four of the writers we have commissioned are professional authors. Two additional commissions will be for emerging writers.
These placements will match writers at an early stage in their careers with an experienced writer and editor who will provide dedicated mentoring and editorial guidance via a series of one-on-one in-person sessions at Levenshulme Old Library tailored. Their work will feature alongside professional peers, giving them a unique experience in terms of career progression, developing their confidence and making valuable contacts.
The successful applicant will also be paid for their writing and performance in line with their fellow authors. The fee is £300 for an original work of short fiction, and £150 for each performance of which will be two, bringing the total fee to £600.
We’re particularly interested in applications from those currently underrepresented in the arts sector, including racially diverse applicants and applicants from low socio-economic backgrounds. We will also prioritise applications from people who currently live, work or study in the Levenshulme area.
The deadline for applications is 11.59pm Wednesday 27th September.