The North Literary Agency Prize 2022
Published: 24 June 2022
An acclaimed literary agency has partnered with Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow for a third year.
An acclaimed literary agency has partnered with Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow for a third year of The North Literary Agency Prize.
Madeline Docherty, currently enrolled on the MLitt Creative Writing programme, was awarded £1000 and an offer of agency representation for her novel, Gender Theory, at a ceremony earlier this week.
Three students in total were shortlisted this year: Frances Copeland (The Dummy Railway), Madeline Docherty (Gender Theory), and Cath Walsh (The Acid Spring).
Spearheaded by Dr Carolyn Jess-Cooke, the North Literary Agency Prize at the University of Glasgow was established in 2019, in partnership with the North Literary Agency.
The prize is judged by agents at the North Literary Agency and is awarded annually to a student who is currently enrolled on the MLitt Creative Writing, the MLitt Creative Writing by Distance Learning, or the MFA/DFA programmes in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow.
Mark ‘Stan’ Stanton, literary agent and CEO of the North Literary Agency Prize, said: "Gender Theory, a novel of interconnected vignettes about the protagonist's romantic and sexual experiences with men, women, and non-binary people, blew us away.
"There is a simplicity to the language that belies a real poetry; and a visceral immediacy in the expertly handled second person narrative that pulls the reader into the action. It reminded us of highly-acclaimed recent novels such as BOY PARTS by Eliza Clark and SALTWATER by Jessica Andrews. Moving and sometimes funny, bittersweet and highly relatable, it's a real triumph and a deserved winner.’, Reader in Creative Writing said: "Our partnership with the North Literary Agency continues to showcase the talent of our cohorts and the success of our Creative Writing programmes.
"Stan’s expertise and knowledge brings a huge level of prestige to this award that offers all the shortlistees a massive confidence boost, and a terrific chance for the winner to develop their writing career. We are completely thrilled to be partnering with them again and look forward to more successes in the future.’
The winner of the 2022 North Literary Agency Prize, Madeline Docherty, said: "I wrote Gender Theory to try and understand and come to terms with my own experiences of girlhood and illness. The narrative would not exist without hundreds of wine-fuelled conversations with my friends about gender, love and relationships, so receiving such high praise for something so personal feels incredible. I’m very happy about it!"
First published: 24 June 2022