The new U.S. program will give five unpublished novelists mentorship, funding, and industry access from some of the Women’s Prize’s most celebrated authors.

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/summer-reading-list-chanel-librairie-7l-books-to-read">Chanel</a> and the Women’s Prize Trust are turning their attention to emerging writers in the United States. On Sept. 30, the two launched Originators, a new mentorship and development program created for unpublished women novelists across the country.
For its inaugural year, Originators will select five writers to participate in a program focused on mentorship, funding, and professional development. Applicants are asked to submit a 5,000-word writing sample, a synopsis, and information about themselves, with submissions open through Nov. 30. Each selected writer will also receive a grant to support their project and access to publishing experts, industry leaders, and other creatives throughout the program.&nbsp;
The selection panel brings some serious literary credentials. A.M. Homes, winner of the 2013 Women’s Prize for Fiction for May We Be Forgiven, will chair the group alongside Virginia Evans, V.V. Ganeshananthan, Tayari Jones, and Nicole Krauss. Evans won the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction for her debut novel The Correspondent, while Ganeshananthan received the award in 2024 for Brotherless Night. Jones won in 2019 for An American Marriage, and Krauss has twice been shortlisted, for The History of Love and Great House.
Each mentor will work directly with one of the five selected writers as they develop their projects. A broader group of publishing professionals and creatives will also participate through guest sessions covering the editorial and publishing process.

A.M. Homes, chair of the Originators selection panel. Courtesy of Chanel.

For Homes, that kind of support can shape a writer long before a book reaches readers. “A writer’s life is not an easy one, nor is having the time and space to do the work something any of us can take for granted,” she said in a statement. Homes also reflected on the teachers and mentors who recognized something in her early on, crediting that encouragement with pushing her to work harder and take greater creative risks.

Virginia Evans, winner of the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction for The Correspondent. Courtesy of Chanel.

V.V. Ganeshananthan, winner of the 2024 Women’s Prize for Fiction for Brotherless Night. Courtesy of Chanel.

Virginia Evans made a similar point. “Writing is a solitary endeavor, and it must be, but once the solitary part is over, the next steps require the help of others,” she said. After winning this year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction with&nbsp;The Correspondent, Evans now returns to the organization as one of the writers helping shape its newest program.&nbsp;
Originators also extends Chanel’s existing work in literature. The house already supports women writers through the Literary Rendezvous at Rue Cambon and the Nouvel Obs Literary Prize, along with the “Mot pour Mots” festival, literary reissues, and editorial projects through 7L Editions. The new program brings that focus to unpublished American fiction writers for the first time.&nbsp;
For the Women’s Prize Trust, the program builds on 30 years of supporting women’s writing through the Women’s Prize for Fiction and Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction. Past Women’s Prize for Fiction winners include Barbara Kingsolver, Maggie O’Farrell, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Zadie Smith, Marilynne Robinson, and Ann Patchett.&nbsp;

Author and two-time Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlisted writer Nicole Krauss. Courtesy of Chanel.

Tayari Jones, winner of the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction for An American Marriage.

Its development programs have also produced measurable results. Discoveries, an initiative for writers in the UK and Ireland launched in 2020, has selected 96 women for its intensive program. Nineteen have since secured publishing deals for debut novels, more than a third of its longlisted writers have signed with literary agents, and 11 alumni had published debut novels as of September 2026. Eight more are expected to publish by 2028.&nbsp;
The five writers selected for Originators will come together in New York City in spring 2027&nbsp;for the cohort announcement and a gathering with the panel. Submissions are open through Nov. 30 at 6:59 p.m. EST.&nbsp;

Originators, the new U.S. writing program from CHANEL and the Women’s Prize Trust. Courtesy of Chanel.

A.M. Homes, Virginia Evans, V.V. Ganeshananthan, Tayari Jones, and Nicole Krauss make up the inaugural Originators selection panel. Courtesy of Chanel.

Meet Originators, Chanel’s New Program for Emerging Women Novelists

Tags

Related Articles

Pop culture

Your Late Summer Reading List, Courtesy of Chanel

Pop culture

An Insider's Guide to Dua Lipa's Library in Portugal

Travel & Living

The Rise of the Book Retreat

Recommended posts for you

Fashion Week

Ready-to-Wear or Couture? Balenciaga's Spring/Summer 2027 Collection Offers Both

Fashion Week

Kai Nesselrath Brings Lightness to His Carven Debut

Fashion Week

Chloé's Romantic Muse Learns to Love the Rain for Spring/Summer 2027

Fashion Week

Haider Ackermann Brings Sensuality Into Focus at Tom Ford for Spring/Summer 2027

Fashion