Showcasing the work of under-represented writers
Creative Future switched to Zealous to manage submissions for their Writer’s Award. The UK’s only national writing competition for all under-represented writers who lack opportunities due to mental health issues, disability, health, or social circumstance.
In brief
Saved a weeks worth of staff time
Received a record number of submissions
Creative Future saved time even with a record number of entries:
- Streamlining the submission process online
- Allowing for optional donations during the application process
Supporting those who lack opportunities
The Creative Future Writer’s Award competition is the UK’s only national writing competition for all under-represented writers who lack opportunities due to mental health issues, disability, health, or social circumstance.
Previously, Creative Future has been taking postal and email entries in conjunction with online entries. This year Creative Future was looking to streamline their process to allow them to scale their awards and manage their workloads.
More entries, less admin time
Creative Future grew the number of submissions they received and decreased their workloads by:
- Moving their application process to Zealous simplified the process of accepting entries from applicants. And although this year Creative Futures chose to allow for postal and email applications. The majority came through online submissions.
- Inviting judges to score entries remotely.
- Simplifying the applications process on Zealous also led to a markable decrease in queries from potential candidates about submitting.
Zealous has been a pleasure to use, vastly reducing our workload and really making for an excellent competition. We received a record number of entries this year, including a big drop in postal/e-mail entries which indicates entrants found Zealous easy to use.
Matt Freidson
Deputy Director (Creative Future)
Record number of applicants
Creative Futures record year didn’t impact their resources. Zealous empowered them to worry less about the admin and instead focus on serving more of their community than ever before. This increased the diversity and depth of the work submitted to them, allowing them to fulfill their mission in supporting the work of under-represented writers like never before.
