Callout: New Writers x Angel's Bone

Factory+ is open for submissions of new writing from emerging writers inspired by our Spring programme

An etching of an angel

The opportunity

To celebrate Angel’s Bone opening at Aviva Studios - the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera by Du Yun and Royce Vavrek - we’re inviting new and emerging writers to pitch a short piece of original writing for Factory+ inspired by the idea of an angel arriving on Earth for the first time.

An English National Opera production in collaboration with Factory International and BBC Philharmonic, Angel’s Bone tells the haunting story of two fallen angels, drawn back to earth by a longing for its pleasures. After they’re taken in by a couple who promise to care for them, their lives unravel as they are exploited by the couple’s greed.

Rather than retelling the story of Angel’s Bone, we’re interested in thoughtful and unexpected responses to what it might mean to encounter the human world from a non-human point of view. Your angel doesn’t need wings, halos or religious context - they might simply be someone who has never been here before.

The prompt

Write a short piece from the perspective of an angel experiencing Earth for the first time.
Your angel might be:

  • confused by everyday human behaviour
  • fascinated by objects, habits or language
  • overwhelmed by noise, food, touch or weather
  • quietly amused by how humans explain the world to themselves

You could explore:

  • first encounters with human routines
  • misunderstandings and small revelations
  • moments of tenderness, humour or awe
  • what feels strange, beautiful or unnecessary about life on Earth

What we’re looking for

We welcome pitches for:

  • short fiction
  • poetry
  • monologue or script

We’re particularly keen to hear from writers at an early stage of their careers, including those with little or no previous publication history.

How to pitch

Send up to 100 words outlining your idea in response to the prompt, along with two short writing samples (no more than five pages total), to editorial@factoryinternational.org by Friday 6 March.
In your pitch, you may want to include:

  • the form your piece might take (short fiction, poetry, a script or something else)
  • the tone you’re aiming for (for example will it be reflective, surreal, observational or something else?)
  • the situation or moment your angel encounters

Selected writers will be commissioned to produce a piece of up to 800 words for publication on Factory+, with editorial support from Factory International.

We will contact those with successful pitches by Friday 13 March for a full commission of up to 800 words. Please note that first drafts need to be submitted by Friday 27 March and final drafts by Tuesday 7 April.

Key dates

Submissions close: Friday 6 March

Writers selected and notified: by Friday 13 March

First drafts submitted: Friday 20 March

First round of feedback: Friday 27 March

Final drafts due: Tuesday 7 April

Who can pitch?

We are looking to support and platform emerging talent. This is an opportunity for writers based in the North of England with less than three published articles/stories. If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact editorial@factoryinternational.org

What you'll get

  • £250 fee for writing your commission
  • Support and feedback from our editorial team
  • Publication on Factory+ - Factory International’s online content platform and amplification on our social media channels

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