Our 2025 Prize Winners: Read Their Work & Watch the Showcase

Last week we celebrated the eight winners of The Book Edit Writers' Prize 2025 at our online showcase, and what an inspiring evening it was.

Judged by acclaimed author Janice Okoh, this year's winners represent exceptional storytelling from voices traditionally underrepresented in UK publishing. Their work took us from 1990s Manchester to Ho Chi Minh City, exploring themes of identity, immigration, belonging and love with freshness and originality. Special thanks goes to Janice for her impeccable judging, Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone for her wonderful rehearsing and hosting, and to all our winners.

The 2025 Winners

• A Handful of Grain by Sudhana Singh

• Bánh Meet Cute by Sophie Yan Yee Lau

• Becoming ‘K. J. Miller’ by Uduak-Abasi Ekong

• Fearfully, Wonderfully by Summer Kendrick

• Get a Life, Sean Paulson by Louise Tolmie

• Roots by Kirsty Purnell

• The Cursed Detective by Phil Callaghan

• Witness We Give by M.H. Dookhun

We're delighted to share that you can now read all eight winning entries in our online anthology and watch the full showcase recording right here on The Book Edit website.

Read the anthology here

Watch the showcase here

Congratulations to all our wonderful winners. We hope you enjoy discovering their stories as much as we have.

Introduction to Developmental Editing Course Launches

Are you interested in working with writers to deepen and strengthen their stories? Are you a copyeditor, proofreader, or line editor who wants to learn more about the big picture of developmental editing? Or are you simply curious about what developmental editing really is?

The Book Edit’s Introduction to Developmental Editing, delivered live over two mornings on Zoom, will introduce you to some key concepts around developmental editing, help you start to understand the core skills a developmental editor needs, and begin to look at how you can build and apply those skills.

Who is teaching the course?

The course will be taught by the Book Edit’s Founder, Emily Pedder. Emily is a developmental editor and creative writing teacher with over twenty years’ experience helping writers move their work towards publication. Authors she has worked with include Monique Roffey, Tim Guest, Deepa Anappara and Hannah Begbie.

What do you need to bring?

Pen and paper, an open mind and a positive attitude! This will be an experiential course where learning comes not just from the tutor but from the group too. There will be opportunities to contribute and share in breakout rooms and through the chat. 

How do I book?

There are two exclusive dates for this course: May 12th and 13th, and July 14th and 15th. Spaces are strictly limited to 9.

When you have paid for the course, you will be sent a registration link for the Zoom meeting and some pre-course homework, which you must complete before the first morning.

Any questions, please email info@thebookedit.co.uk