The Greene Door
The Greene Door Project is an open submissions initiative, and the Greene Door Pitch Event is an opportunity for aspiring writers to meet a literary agent, ask questions about seeking representation and the publishing process, and to discuss their work in a one-to-one feedback session. The aim of The Greene Door Project and Pitch Event is to ensure that the work of writers from under-represented backgrounds is considered, and to encourage authors from all backgrounds to submit their work to us.
Both the Project and the Pitch Event are open to unagented writers from under-represented backgrounds and are in addition to our usual submission process, in which we actively seek submissions from people of all backgrounds.
The Greene Door Project
We are delighted to be bringing back our Greene Door mentoring scheme for writers from underrepresented backgrounds.
The literacy agency launched the initiative as part of the Greene Door Project in November 2021. The project aims to discover writers and help increase diversity of representation in the publishing industry. This opportunity is open internationally to writers of colour, disabled writers, neurodiverse writers, LGBTQIA+ writers, and working class writers. We’re keen to hear from any #ownvoices writers.
Ten writers will be offered a Zoom session with an agent for feedback on their work, with the opportunity to ask questions about the publishing process.
Applicants should submit a covering letter, synopsis of their work and up to 5,000 words of the opening of their novel to greenedoor@greeneheaton.co.uk. It is not a requirement to have a completed manuscript at the time of applying. All submissions should be at least 1.5 line spaced with page numbers, clearly marked with the applicant’s name and contact details on the title page. The Greene Door Project should be entered in the subject line. The closing date for entries is 27th March 2026.
Successful writers will be contacted by an agent by 1st May 2026, to schedule a 15 minute feedback Zoom session in May, depending on the writer’s and agent’s availability. Feedback may consist of editorial advice, and general guidance for how an author may progress towards publication.
Greene & Heaton have met and signed several authors through Greene Door, such as Fiona Keating, whose debut novel SMOKE AND SILK was published by Mountain Leopard Press in March 2025. Another Greene Door alum, Daisy J. Hung, had her first book, I AM NOT A TOURIST published by HQ, also in March 2025. Nicolas Padamsee, from the 2022 cohort, was chosen as one of The Observer’s 10 Best New Novelists for 2024. His “politically engaged, urgently plotted” first novel, ENGLAND IS MINE, was published in April 2024 by Serpent’s Tail.
From the 2024 Greene Door programme, two more signed authors have received a publishing deal, one being UNDER A FUR COAT by Sonya Vatomsky, acquired by Manilla Press, to be published September 2026. THE HONEYMOON SUITE by Rebecca Taylor Mckay, was acquired by Christina Demosthenous at Renegade in a major six-figure, 48-hour pre-empt, to be published June 2026 as a superlead. This was followed by pre-empts in Germany and France, with further translation deals following. Three more deals by Greene Door authors will be announced later this year.
We are offering ten promising writers a Zoom session with an agent for feedback on their work, with the opportunity to ask questions about the industry and learn more about how begin a successful writing career.
1. We are inviting writers from under-represented backgrounds in publishing to submit a covering letter, synopsis of their work and up to 5,000 words of the opening of their novel to be read by one of our agents. It is not a requirement to have a completed manuscript at the time of applying. 2. Please send your applications to greenedoor@greeneheaton.co.uk. All submissions should be at least 1.5 line spaced with page numbers and clearly marked with your name and contact details on the title page. Please include ‘The Greene Door Project’ in the subject line.
3. The closing date for entries is Friday 27th March 2026.
4. Successful writers will be contacted by a Greene & Heaton agent by Friday 1st May 2026, to schedule a fifteen minute feedback Zoom session in May, depending on the writer’s and agent’s availability. Feedback may consist of editorial advice, answering any questions the writer might have about the publishing industry, or general guidance for how an author may progress towards publication.
5. We can only accept applications from unagented writers. We hope the feedback sessions will be valuable opportunities for writers to receive support and advice from an agent.
6. If you have any questions about your application, please do contact us at greenedoor@greeneheaton.co.uk.
Email address: greenedoor@greeneheaton.co.uk
Closing date: Friday 27th March 2026
Answers to FAQs
1. Submit to ‘The Greene Door Team’, as we randomly assign each application to an agent.
2. Please only submit one piece of work.
3. Please send your synopsis and 5,000 words in separate documents, ideally in Word, not in the body of your email.
4. Your synopsis should be no longer than 2 pages.
5. You can enter again, even if you have applied in previous years.
6. The Greene Door Project is open to writers around the world, writing in English.
7. This time, we are not accepting children's writers.
The Greene Door Pitch Event
The Greene Door Pitch Event is an opportunity for aspiring writers to meet a literary agent, ask questions about seeking representation and the publishing process, and to discuss their work in a ten-minute one-to-one session.
We don’t currently have a Pitch Event day coming up, but please do check back here for further updates in the future.