This page is designed as a resource for Alumni of the Rathbones Folio Mentorships – and for mentees currently on the scheme – but is free for all to use. Here, you’ll find a series of recommended reads by Folio Academy Members, information about magazines and initiatives aimed at young creative writers, and links to other valuable websites, organisations, and online resources. 

Recommended Reads

‘Books That Helped Us Through This Year’ Series

Here are reading recommendations from Folio Academy Members, for books which helped them through the year 2020.

New Writing by Folio Academy Members 

Here, we list new books by Folio Academy Members – a mixture of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The recommendations will grow on a regular basis, in order to create a reading list over time. Don’t forget: you can request books from your local library.

Fiction

Ponti is the debut novel by Sharlene Teo, a graduate of the University of East Anglia’s Creative Writing MA program. The novel spans decades, and tells the tale of three Singaporean women – Szu, her acid-tongued friend Circe and Szu’s mother Amisa, a faded actress. The novel’s key themes are memory and friendship.

Poetry

The Built Moment is UK poet Lavinia Greenlaw’s fifth collection of poetry, published by Faber and Faber. The poems in The Built Moment are split into two sections: the first, ‘The Sea is an Edge and an Ending’, looks at memory and illness. The second, ‘The Bluebell Horizontal’, focuses on loss and grief.

Magazines to check out

There are dozens of exciting literature magazines – online and in print – which feature young and debut creative writers. These magazines are a great way to discover new, inspiring work, and when the time is right, you can submit your own writing for consideration. Here are three top picks:

Founded in Cardiff in 2013, AYLY began as a collaboration between young poets, illustrators and photographers all hunting for a place to be heard. AYLY publish creative writing online and in print by writers between 16 and 25.

Brittle Star

Brittle Star is a print magazine which publishes new poetry and short stories twice a year. It is known for championing early-career writers – particularly writers who haven’t had their work published before.
Butcher’s Dog is a small, dynamic poetry magazine based and published in the North East of England, and has a reputation for promoting and publishing new and debut voices.

Resources

The Society of Authors

The Society of Authors is a trade union for writers at any stage of their careers – but its website is also an invaluable source of free information on anything and everything to do with writing. It lists events, tips, and useful blog posts.

Young Poet’s Network

Young Poets Network is The Poetry Society’s platform for young poets up to the age of 25. You’ll find features about poets and poetry, challenges and competitions, new writing from young poets, and advice and guidance from leading poets.

Spread The Word

Spread The Word is a London-based writer development agency, which hosts a range of prizes, events, workshops and projects, and has as its aim the diversification of the creative writing sector.
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