Bruntwood Playwriting Competition: female applicants needed!
The deadline is now looming for entries in the second year of the competition for the Royal Exchange Theatre, and judging panel member Brenda Blethyn has urged more women to enter. It’s open to writers aged 18 and over and anonymous selection means that both novices and professionals compete side by side. There’s a first prize of £15,000 up for grabs, plus the chance for the winning writers to have their plays considered for production and then published. All entries should be submitted by Friday 13 June. For more information go to www.writeaplay.co.uk .

Special sweetener from the Arvon Foundation
If you were thinking of doing a course with the Arvon Foundation, there couldn’t be a better time to apply. If you attend one of their courses this year, you will be considered for the new Jerwood/Arvon Mentoring Scheme for Gifted and Talented Writers. Nine people from the courses will be chosen to be mentored in 2009 for a year by a published writer. In addition, as an extra bonus for the first time, in 2008 if you wish, you can have your writing read by one of the UK's leading literary agents, Capel & Land, and by leading literary publisher John Murray. You will be told how to do this when you book your Arvon course with them. See www.arvonfoundation.org/p3.html for more information.

Exiled Writers INK mentoring and translation scheme
Are you a writer forced to live in exile? Are you finding it hard to get recognition and published in the UK? Exiled Writers INK is running a mentoring scheme to match writers in exile with well-known writers and translators in the UK. You will work together intensively over a year, leading to publications/readings and new opportunities. You do not have to have been previously published, or have perfect English, but you do need to be writing at a high level and ready to accept guidance and constructive criticism from your mentor. If you are interested, please send 10 poems or two short stories and a CV (in English) to NatTeitler@aol.com . The deadline is 18 June 2008.

Young Writers’ Festival at the Royal Court
If you’re under 26 and have an urgent story to tell, write it for the Royal Court and send it to the Young Writers’ Festival by 31 May. Your play can be about absolutely anything and be in any style. The most exciting plays will win a full professional production at the Royal Court Theatre in February 2009. See http://royalcourt.e-flyers.org.uk/anythingcanhappen/youngwriters.php for details of how to enter.