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The Mechanics’ Institute Review to offer exciting opportunities for writers across Britain

Renowned short-story anthology seeks national talent thanks to Arts Council funding

The Mechanics’ Institute Review (MIR) is Birkbeck’s annual anthology of short fiction by emerging and established writers. Available in print and e-book format, to date MIR has focused on work by current students and alumni of Birkbeck’s creative writing programmes. Now, thanks to funding from Arts Council England, MIR is widening its reach beyond Birkbeck, to find and develop talent from throughout the country.

With a backlist of 13 issues, MIR champions the short story as an art form, promoting diversity and opportunity for all while publishing new work of the highest possible standard. It has received critical acclaim from the Guardian, Independent, TLS and Time Out, and endorsements from Ali Smith, Damian Barr, Geoff Dyer, Tessa Hadley and Courttia Newland among many others. The anthology has featured more than 40 guest authors, including Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Evie Wyld, Zoe Gilbert, Jackie Kay, Rose Tremain and David Foster Wallace, to name but a prize-winning few.

Meanwhile, a significant number of the approximately 200 new authors featured in the anthology have found agents and landed contracts as a direct result of their inclusion.

Each collection is the result of a rigorous selection and editing process, which ensures the high literary and production standards of every issue. It has also meant that involvement with MIR is acknowledged to be a valuable experience for editors and authors alike.

MA Course Director Julia Bell says: ‘This is a new departure for creative writing at Birkbeck, editing a publication that showcases the best short-story writers from across the UK and which represents diverse and original voices. It’s an exciting addition to the wider literary culture.’

Award-winning writer Kit de Waal, who has previously contributed to MIR and who funds a creative writing scholarship at Birkbeck, has now joined the MIR editorial board. She said: ‘The most important thing for emerging writers is to value your voice, value your story. Because you haven’t read anything like what you’re writing, like the thing you’re writing, don’t be afraid to write that thing and send it out. Value your experience, value your voice, value where you come from.’

Submissions for the 14th issue (to be published in September 2017) are now being accepted. Authors wishing to submit a short story should visit the MIR submission page.

Watch a video about MIR13

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