Women's Prizes - Reading Group Shadowing 2025 |
Opportunity to shadow the Women's Prize for Fiction or Non-Fiction 2025 shortlist!
The Women’s Prize Trust’s mission is to change the world through books by women, opening up pathways into reading and writing for the storytellers and booklovers of tomorrow.
The Women’s Prize for Fiction empowers all women to raise their voice and own their story, regardless of their background. The Prize is the greatest celebration of female creativity in the world and celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025.
The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction is an annual book prize that celebrates exceptional narrative non-fiction by women. The Prize promotes excellence in writing, robust research, original narrative voices and accessibility, showcasing women’s expertise across a range of fields.
The shadowing opportunity
The Women’s Prize for Fiction empowers all women to raise their voice and own their story, regardless of their background. The Prize is the greatest celebration of female creativity in the world and celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025.
The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction is an annual book prize that celebrates exceptional narrative non-fiction by women. The Prize promotes excellence in writing, robust research, original narrative voices and accessibility, showcasing women’s expertise across a range of fields.
The shadowing opportunity
We have the exciting opportunity for 12 UK based book clubs to shadow this year's prizes (six shadowing the shortlist of the Women's Prize for Fiction 2025 and six shadowing the shortlist for the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction 2025).
If your club would like to take part, please fill out the questions below before 24 March 2025. Groups who are selected to shadow the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction will be selected following the shortlist announcement on 26 March 2025. Groups who are selected to shadow the Women's Prize for Fiction will be selected following the shortlist announcement on 2 April 2025.
Each book club will receive a set of copies of one shortlisted book – in the format of their choice – which they will need to read, discuss and send feedback and reviews for by 4 June 2025. Each group will also have a questionnaire to fill in to share more insight into their meeting where they discussed the book. Individual members are to share reviews on Reading Groups for Everyone website.
The Reading Agency will be hosting a virtual meeting with two members from each of the six selected book clubs (TBC). This is so that we can meet you all, introduce you to each other and ask any questions you may have about the process.
This year, we are delighted to invite the six selected groups for each prize to a private Zoom event with a judge of the Prize, where two members from each group will give their group's feedback. Groups will have the chance to meet the other groups involved, share their reflections on the books, and get a unique glimpse behind the scenes of the Prize. The events will take place w/c 26 May or w/c 2 June from 6.15pm (TBC).
In addition, we will also be offering the selected groups the opportunity to win tickets to attend the Women's Prize LIVE on 11 June as part of the shadowing process.
We are keen to have groups who are engaged with social media to increase the reach of the Prize. All groups are welcome to apply.
Please contact readinggroups@readingagency.org.uk if you have any questions.
Applications will close at 23:59 on 23 March 2025.
Applications open to all UK groups aged 18 and above.