Seth Insua on being a North East Novelist

When I applied to join North East Novelists back in 2023, I felt sheepish about calling myself an author. Now my debut novel, Human, Animal (VERVE Books), is an official selection for the BBC Radio 2 Book Club with Sara Cox, and comes with endorsements from some of my most beloved writers.

I first signed with a literary agent back in 2017. After six years and a lot of hard work, my stories remained unsung – just not quite commercial enough, or so I was told. But I was still determined to tell the tales I wasn’t seeing on the shelves, books I would want to read myself, in which I could see my own experiences. Trying to rally, I adopted a ‘growth mindset’: I just needed to keep learning and honing my craft.

Through North East Novelists, I got so much more than the workshops I was promised (which were wide-ranging, delivered by acclaimed writers, and pitched at the perfect level for a group of professional authors). My smart, creative peers, who have now become firm friends, treated me like an equal from day one, even though most were significantly further ahead in their careers. They were so generous with their knowledge, sharing industry insights and personal experiences, both positive and negative. And they cheered me on as I took my first steps as a debut author.

This had a profound impact on my confidence. I’ve gained so much, learning from my North East Novelists colleagues, and I’m extremely grateful to New Writing North for providing such a fantastic programme.

Applications for North East Novelists 2025 are currently open to agented or published writers anywhere in the North East. Find out more and apply here by 28 February.