My Journey to Publication with Undiscovered Voices
At the time I entered Undiscovered Voices 2022, I was entering pretty much any competition I could find, and the fact that UV was free for SCBWI members made it a no-brainer for me.
I’d been writing for over a decade at that point, and the closer I felt I was to getting an agent, the more painful it was when my approaches didn’t come to fruition. But each time I got knocked back, I picked myself up again, and redoubled my efforts.
When I found out I had been selected as one of twelve UV winners, something fundamental shifted in my mindset. It was like being told I really did have something special, and it was worth carrying on.
Whilst being one of the UV 22 cohort was a real validation that I was on the right track with my writing, it wasn’t the only advantage. It was also the first time that I connected deeply with other writers who were in the same boat as me, and a few of those writers have become some of my best friends.
The twelve of us bonded right away – not least because we were the ‘lockdown cohort’ which meant that we missed out on some of the in-person benefits which are usually a part of it – such as a fancy Champagne reception where you get to mingle with lots of agents.
Of course, being part of a group of committed, talented writers can be a double-edged sword.
You have people who really understand what you’re going through, who can offer helpful advice, and be a shoulder to cry on, but you may also have to watch them signing with agents and winning book deals, while you look on from the side-lines. Despite being genuinely happy for them, you also wonder when or even if it’s ever going to happen for you.
I am testament to the fact that you shouldn’t lose hope if it doesn’t happen instantly. Personally, some of my good friends from UV 2022 were having their books hit the shelves while I felt like I was languishing, agentless. But, when I did get a book deal, it was a major six-figure pre-empt with Penguin Random House, with my book set to be a lead YA title in 2026. So – very much worth the wait.
It's my belief that if the judges select you for Undiscovered Voices, then you have what it takes to go all the way. Your breakthrough book might not be the book that won UV (it wasn’t for several of us) and it might take a few more years of work – but winning a place among the finalists is such a strong sign that if you are willing to keep writing, keep improving, and keep trying - it will happen.
As well as getting my work published, the competition has done so much for other areas of my career - the contacts I’ve made through UV have blossomed into a huge network of writers, which have resulted in more wonderful friendships, connections and opportunities.
To give you one example, my fellow winner, the incredible Cara Miller (who is now a huge name in cosy crime) introduced me to the lovely YA Fantasy writer Kirsty Collinson (who has become one of my best friends) who in turn introduced me to Sarah Brooks (who wrote the breath-taking Cautious Travellers Guide to the Universe). It was Sarah who offered me a chairing opportunity at Waterstones, meaning I made contact with Waterstones Leeds and also met Elise Kova, a #1 NYT Bestselling author. Each of the contacts you make among your magical twelve can lead to countless more opportunities like this if you take advantage of them.
And of course, the support and resources provided by the UV team to the winners are invaluable. I couldn’t believe it when I found out that the mentor selected for me was Annaliese Avery – a former UV winner, and an absolute powerhouse in various writing communities, and now one of the leading YA authors in the UK, with her book The Wycherleys being selected for the very first Waterstones YA Book of the month.
Annaliese, Sara Grant, Simon James Green and so many others offered their time and expertise to help us understand the industry and how to take first steps in it, as well as how to hone our editing skills to get our manuscripts into the best possible shape.
My YA feminist fantasy novel, Blood of Gods and Girls, is another example of how you can actually be on the right track for a long time and getting closer and closer to your goal, without realising it. An early version of the novel was called The Living Goddess and the Pirate Queen, and placed in a different competition (WriteMentor), which was very encouraging. Then - advised by my growing network of contacts, including the people I’d met through UV - I attended an online course with the Golden Egg Acdemy, which is where I was placed with the fabulous editor, Hayley Fairhead.
Hayley politely pointed out that I was trying to tell two stories in one – the pirate queen’s and the story of the goddess - and that this was pulling my novel in different directions. After I’d finished throwing my toys out of the pram and threatening to give up the whole project and write something different, I followed Hayley’s advice. Now, Blood of Gods and Girls tells one of the stories, and the second book (which I am currently writing) tells the other one– which means both have room to soar.
Some of my UV friends were the earliest beta readers for the new form of Blood of Gods and Girls, and gave me invaluable advice on how to improve and polish it. They were also there keeping me accountable and cheering me on as I went on sub to agents.
When the unthinkable happened and I ended up with multiple agent offers, my fellow UV writers were also on hand with practical, helpful advice to help me navigate that.
And now, as I have just completed my first series of panel events, it was Ali Clack, the fabulous writer of YA thrillers: Lie or Die and Blood Moon and a fellow UV alumna, who came along to support me and celebrate me not putting my foot in my mouth (too much).
So, to anyone considering entering UV, I would say that it’s an absolute must – you have nothing to lose, and so much to gain. If you lose – okay – you try again next time. I failed to place anywhere in countless competitions before I started getting anywhere.
But if you win…
UV was a springboard to my writing career, it gave me hope at a time when hope was in short supply and most valuable of all, it gave me some of my closest writing friends.
Katja Kaine is the author of YA Feminist Fantasy Blood of Gods and Girls, which will be launched July 2026 as a YA lead title by Penguin Random House. She is the creator of The Novel Factory, purpose-built software for novel writers, and the Novel Writing Roadmap – a step by step guide to writing a novel. She has also recently launched the First Draft Bootcamp, a course and community designed to help writers plan and write the first draft of their novel in ten weeks.
