Description
"Getting published as a writer felt amazingly awesome. To see my work published, I felt really proud of myself and that I can achieve anything I put my mind to, despite what the storm might be."
- Elizabeth, First Story alumna from Hull
We expect to place professional writers in at least 60 partner schools in the 2023/24 academic year. Each First Story group will work towards a published anthology, produced to a professional standard with the support of editors, proofreaders, typesetters, designers and printers. Each anthology costs us £1,000 to publish. Please help to fund this invaluable part of our programme.
First Story has published over 500 titles since 2008, transforming thousands of aspiring young writers into published authors with their own book in the collection of the British Library. Our commitment to publish young people's creative writing to a professional standard has a transformative impact on their confidence, self-esteem, aspiration and belief. We are proud to be an independent publisher of vital young voices from underrepresented backgrounds, too often unheard.
All First Story groups work collaboratively towards publication of their own anthology, edited by their First Story Writer-in-Residence. Each young writer chooses which of their pieces to include in the anthology — learning how to edit, revise and improve their own writing to be publication ready. Together the group decides their anthology’s title and cover art. Copies of anthologies are gifted to participants and the school’s library, with a copy also sent to the British Library. Students' achievement as published authors is typically celebrated at a book launch event, attended by their families and communities.