{"id":62133,"date":"2021-12-16T17:15:58","date_gmt":"2021-12-16T17:15:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/?p=62133"},"modified":"2021-12-17T12:34:32","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T12:34:32","slug":"a-new-generation-of-welsh-writers-are-raising-their-voices-to-increase-representation-in-literature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2021\/12\/16\/a-new-generation-of-welsh-writers-are-raising-their-voices-to-increase-representation-in-literature\/","title":{"rendered":"A new generation of Welsh writers are raising their voices to increase representation in literature"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Young people are taking action to increase literary opportunities and make structural change by platforming diverse voices in the literature scene in Wales<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-1024x512.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-62134\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-1024x512.png 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-770x385.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-1536x768.png 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-1366x683.png 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-585x293.png 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-1170x585.png 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-1500x750.png 1500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-293x147.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-1400x700.png 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-1024x512.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-62134\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-1024x512.png 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-770x385.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-1536x768.png 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-1366x683.png 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-585x293.png 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-1170x585.png 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-1500x750.png 1500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-293x147.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales-1400x700.png 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Culture_ShubhangiDua_Under-representedwritersinWales.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption><span style=\"color:#d14900\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Rap-poet, Duke Al Durham [left] recites poetry next to editor-in-chief of <em>Lucent Dreaming<\/em> Jannat Ahmed [centre] and Where I&#8217;m Coming From (WICF) founder, Durre Shahwar speaks at WICF open-mic event. Illustration: Shubhangi Dua<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-background is-style-wide\" style=\"background-color:#b40054;color:#b40054\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\"><span style=\"color:#b40054\" class=\"has-inline-color\">A<\/span> young man stands at the centre of the stage, all lights on him and begins rapping his poetry, <em>Liquorice<\/em>, \u201cWhen walking the streets with the black kids, He\u2019s labelled as a gang member.\u2026 When he\u2019s with the white kids he\u2019s token, Old people call him coloured&#8230;\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rap-poet, Duke Al Durham, 27, recently won a poetry contest and published his poem, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/artesmundi.org\/journals\/liquorice-by-duke-al-durham\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Liquorice,<\/a><\/em> with visual arts non-profit Artes Mundi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Welsh literary organisations are collaborating to create opportunities for under-represented writers. Organisations including Artes Mundi, literary charity<span class=\"has-inline-color has-pale-pink-color\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/arts.wales\/news-jobs-opportunities\/2020-literature-wales-writers-bursaries-and-mentoring-scheme-recipients\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Literature Wales<\/a><\/span>, independent publisher <a href=\"https:\/\/lumin-press.com\/Projects\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lumin Press<\/a> and open-mic collective Where I\u2019m Coming From. They are working together to provide diverse artists opportunities through competitions, funded projects, submission call-outs for magazines and journals, as well as work <a href=\"https:\/\/www.literaturewales.org\/lw-news\/the-writers-of-wales-inspiring-our-communities-literature-wales-launches-new-database-and-funding-scheme-for-events\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">opportunities<\/a>.&nbsp;However, official statistics couldn\u2019t be found suggesting a boost in equity in Welsh arts and culture industry.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Duke said, \u201cI create to relate and educate those who are struggling with mental health so they don\u2019t feel alone but find comfort in the words that I use.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The young poet also said that he might be new to the literature scene in Wales, but he feels the voices of people from different ethnic backgrounds are now starting to be heard. Duke said, \u201cSince the Black Lives Matter movement especially, organisations are more aware of how opportunities are affected because of ethnicities, social stigmatisation and stereotypes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" title=\"Spotify Embed: Defy Gravity\" width=\"100%\" height=\"80\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/58oYfPOH8ZmiMSJriP45t9?si=62c8e26dce3f4914&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><noscript><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Defy Gravity\" width=\"100%\" height=\"80\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/58oYfPOH8ZmiMSJriP45t9?si=62c8e26dce3f4914&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n<\/div><figcaption><span style=\"color:#d14900\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Listen to Duke&#8217;s most popular rap, <em>Defy Gravity<\/em> on Spotify<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"color:#b40054\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Penning the race<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Duke reflects on his past and says that he turned to the pen when he experienced racism as a rugby player in school, and still continues to experience racism. \u201cRacism seems like an acceptable tool to those who feel intimidated and use it to combat their feelings. It\u2019s still massively prevalent in the UK. It\u2019s important for more artists and creatives to come together and share their experiences to eradicate racism,\u201d he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Durre Shahwar is co-founder of an open-mic collective for underrepresented writers in Wales, Where I\u2019m Coming From<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/GX0bMhv4b3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> (WICF)<\/a>, and believes Cardiff is now doing a better job of representing diverse voices. This is in comparison to when she first started WICF, where there were fewer events that catered specifically to writers and performers of colour. \u201cI\u2019d like to think that we were the first people to drive this change that\u2019s happening now,\u201d said Durre.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 29-year-old writer started WICF in the summer of 2017, while pursuing her Masters. The collective collaborates with other institutions to bridge the gap between emerging writers and established literary organisations for more opportunities. WICF helped nearly 50 artists gain opportunities with publishers and literary journals.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Durre said, \u201cI was attending lots of open-mics, literary events and festivals, but wasn\u2019t really seeing the representation I wanted to see in Wales, unlike in London. I believe we have bridged that gap by working with <a href=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2019\/10\/31\/museum-of-cardiff-launch-a-month-long-people-of-butetown-display\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Museum<\/a> of Cardiff, <a href=\"https:\/\/artesmundi.org\/am10-nominations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Artes Mundi<\/a>, and Literature Wales.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-default is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><span style=\"color:#a30000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">It&#8217;s important to give diverse people the tools that have<\/span><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\"> <\/span><span style=\"color:#b40054\" class=\"has-inline-color\">been<\/span><span class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\"> <\/span><span style=\"color:#b40054\" class=\"has-inline-color\">available to middle-class white people<\/span><\/p><cite><span style=\"color:#b40054\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Jannat Ahmed<\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-background is-style-dots\" style=\"background-color:#b40054;color:#b40054\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color:#e24704\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Learn more about the young generation&#8217;s opinion on diversity in arts and culture in Wales <\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" title=\"Is Wales doing enough to represent diverse voices in the literature scene\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/z8dj6jl9W_Y?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><noscript><iframe title=\"Is Wales doing enough to represent diverse voices in the literature scene\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/z8dj6jl9W_Y?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-background is-style-dots\" style=\"background-color:#b40054;color:#b40054\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"color:#b40054\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Diversity is tokenistic<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jannat Ahmed is a young editor-in-chief and founder of the independent magazine for emerging authors and artists, <em>Lucent Dreaming,<\/em> based in Barry, says that diversity in companies is very tokenistic.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 26-year-old said, \u201cIt\u2019s important to give under-represented people the tools and resources that have been available to middle-class white people like work experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The literary magazine aims to provide marginalised writers and artists the opportunities to work behind the scenes from writing to production. \u201cFrom next year, we want writers from underrepresented backgrounds to participate in helping us judge writing in our competitions,\u201d said the young editor-in-chief.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The co-founder of WICF also talks about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-wales-47949266\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tokenism<\/a> in representation and her desire to see more organisations run by under-represented groups from the ground up. She says,\u201cIt\u2019s frustrating to me when we try to fit in people in predetermined criteria of how stories are told.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-default is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><span style=\"color:#b40054\" class=\"has-inline-color\">The industry relies more on freelance writers of colour to boost diversity<\/span><\/p><cite><span style=\"color:#b40054\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Durre Shahwar<\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Durre emphasises that the approach to change should not be looked at in terms of visual representation of diversity. She says, \u201cIt\u2019s a tick-box exercise for organisations to hire artists for visual representation only. It\u2019s still a hierarchy almost and as a result, the industry relies more on freelance writers of colour to boost diversity. We need permanent roles for under-represented writers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-62367\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-2048x1024.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-1920x960.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-1500x750.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-1400x700.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-62367\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-2048x1024.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-1920x960.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-1500x750.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Break-2-1400x700.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption><span style=\"color:#d14900\" class=\"has-inline-color\">WICF Open-Mic Collective&#8217;s literature mixer taking place in Tramshed, Cardiff. Credit: Durre Shahwar<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#b40054\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Making<\/strong> <strong>foundational change<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through her organisation, Durre\u2019s main goal is collaborating with other organisations to bridge the gap between emerging writers and established literary organisations for more opportunities very much grassroots. WICF has been collaborating with the National Museum of Cardiff, Artes Mundi, and Literature Wales to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-wales-53393457\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">empower marginalised<\/a> artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Durre continues to say society needs people to make permanent long term roles in organisations for diverse voices. She believes many organisations have now started to do that but there is still a <a href=\"https:\/\/arts.wales\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-04\/Strategic%20Equality%20Objectives%202020-2024.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">long way to go<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Lucent Dreaming<\/em>\u2019s founder is planning to expand the<a href=\"https:\/\/lucentdreaming.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> magazine<\/a> to a book publishing company to make a change in the Welsh literature scene. Jannat said, \u201cStarting a fully funded book publisher will make me potentially the first full-time paid publisher of colour in Wales. I have to make the change myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-background is-style-wide\" style=\"background-color:#8c0041;color:#8c0041\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Upcoming-Competitions-Literature-Competitions-in-Wales-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-62319\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Upcoming-Competitions-Literature-Competitions-in-Wales-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Upcoming-Competitions-Literature-Competitions-in-Wales-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Upcoming-Competitions-Literature-Competitions-in-Wales-770x433.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Upcoming-Competitions-Literature-Competitions-in-Wales-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Upcoming-Competitions-Literature-Competitions-in-Wales-1366x768.png 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Upcoming-Competitions-Literature-Competitions-in-Wales-293x165.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Upcoming-Competitions-Literature-Competitions-in-Wales-1400x788.png 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Upcoming-Competitions-Literature-Competitions-in-Wales.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Upcoming-Competitions-Literature-Competitions-in-Wales-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-62319\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Upcoming-Competitions-Literature-Competitions-in-Wales-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Upcoming-Competitions-Literature-Competitions-in-Wales-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Upcoming-Competitions-Literature-Competitions-in-Wales-770x433.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Upcoming-Competitions-Literature-Competitions-in-Wales-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Upcoming-Competitions-Literature-Competitions-in-Wales-1366x768.png 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Upcoming-Competitions-Literature-Competitions-in-Wales-293x165.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Upcoming-Competitions-Literature-Competitions-in-Wales-1400x788.png 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Upcoming-Competitions-Literature-Competitions-in-Wales.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption><span style=\"color:#d14900\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Upcoming literary competitions in Wales are open for submission now. Credit: Shubhangi Dua<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Young people are taking action to increase literary opportunities and make structural change by platforming diverse voices in the literature 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