Join the Squad
We are now recruiting for our next Squad. The two year programme will run from May 2025.
To be eligible to apply, you must be aged between 16 and 22 and live, work or study in the North of England.
You can listen to an audio version of this how to apply page here and an Easy-Read version can be found here.
If you are unsure of anything you can read questions we are frequently asked here or listen to them here.
WHAT IS THE SQUAD?
The Writing Squad exists to help motivated writers develop. We welcome writers of any format – from poetry and prose, through film, stage and radio scripts, to games and graphic novels.
Being part of the Squad is FREE. We work around your life so you can study, work or travel at the same time.
The Squad will provide you with:
…one to one support on whatever you are writing
…workshops led by professional writers
…opportunities to work on projects
…a supportive community of writers and artists
…professional development, advice and support
You can find out more about our programme here and who’ll you be working with.
You can also meet some of the writers from previous Squads. Take at look at all the places they have been published, produced and broadcast, and where they work.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Details are below or you can download how to apply here. You can You can listen to an audio version of this how to apply page here and an Easy-Read version can be found here.. If anything is unclear do get in touch and we’ll help.
The closing date is midnight Monday March 31st 2025.
To apply to join the Writing Squad please send us the following:
…a cover note of no more than 2 pages telling us about you, your writing, who inspires you, and what you’d like the Squad to do for you. Include what your plans are in terms of study/work/travel and where you’ll be living over the next two years. Please also tell us how old you will be on April 1st 2025, and how you found out about the Squad (Facebook, a leaflet, a schoolteacher etc.)
…up to ten pages of prose/script or ten poems/songs, or URLs where we can watch or listen to your work.
Email everything for your application as one single Word or PDF attachment to join@writingsquad.com. We need your application document to be saved with the correct name so that we can process it, please save your file as yourfirstname_yoursurname_squad
For example: if your name was Bernadine Evaristo, your filename would be Bernadine_Evaristo_Squad.doc.
Remember, we only accept Microsoft Word or PDF files.
You must email us the document. We will not accept applications through Google Docs or any other file sharing service (though of course if you include links in your application to your work on YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, Tumblr or blogs you run, we will look at those).
If there is any technical or personal reason why you can’t meet these guidelines, and you have no one who can help you, email us and we’ll see if we can help.
The closing date is midnight Monday 31st March 2025.
BEFORE YOU PRESS SEND READ THAT SECTION AGAIN AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ANSWERED ALL THE QUESTIONS, ARE SUBMITTING A SINGLE DOCUMENT AND HAVE SAVED IT WITH THE RIGHT FILENAME.
If you have any questions have a look at the FAQs and then if we have not answered everything you need to know, email us question@writingsquad.com. You can have a look at what we get up to on Instagram and TikTok. You can download these guidelines here.
all the best with your application!
