Opportunities for Writers
To find out more about opportunities for young writers, click here
At Scottish Book Trust we get lots of people telling us about different opportunities for writers in Scotland. Here's the current crop, organised by the month of deadline:
May
The Tom McGrath Trust Small Grants Awards will be given towards expenditure which makes writing for the stage possible. Examples of items for support may include travel and research; equipment; costs of staging performed readings of new work; child-care and general living costs to support artists’ development.
FOUR WINDS CHILDREN'S WRITERS WORKSHOP
Four Winds Children's Writers Workshop is an all day event which aims to help you perfect your writing and explore the best options for getting your children's book published. The workshop will feature sessions led by Victoria Campbell, Liz Rettig, Lynne Rickards and Wendy Storer.
Date: Saturday 18 May 2013
THE WRITTEN IMAGE: CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The Scottish Poetry Library and Edinburgh Printmakers are now accepting submissions from poets and printmakers who would like to be considered for The Written Image project. Selected poets will be partnered with selected printmakers who will work together to produce a print(s) or an artist’s book featuring print and poetry. Works from the submission will be chosen for display at the Edinburgh Printmakers Winter Exhibition.
Deadline: Wednesday 22 May 2013
WIN A LIVE ONLINE READING GROUP SESSION WITH THE WINNER OF THE 2013 WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION
A fantastic opportunity for readers to win the chance to participate in a live online chat in a 'Google+ Hangout' with the winning author of the 2013 Women's Prize for Fiction - announced on 5 June.
For your chance to win a place in the hangout, simply submit a 50-word entry using this online form stating why you should be chosen, and which three questions you would ask the 2013 winner.
Deadline: Friday May 24 2013
WRITING FOR CHILDREN COURSE WITH ALAN DURANT
Alan Durant, author of over 80 books for children, will be running a residential course on Writing for Children in rural French town of Crecy in Picardie. Based on the Arvon model, the course will offer participants the opportunity to write and share ideas, and to explore techniques involved in writing a range of fiction for children of different ages, with one to one tutorials, group workshops and discussions, and plenty of writing time, all in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Dates of course: Sunday 26 May to Friday 31 May 2013
SHORT STORY COMPETITON WITH MARDIBOOKS
Mardibooks are looking for short stories of between 1,2000 and 5,000 words from writers of all ages. Up to 12 submissions will receive one-to-one expert feedback. Stories selected for feedback will also be considered for entry in a Mardibooks short story anthology, which will be published as an ebook on Amazon in late 2013.
Successful submissions will be original ideas, well devised, with an interesting story and developed characterization. Stories need to show an interesting use of language and considered and appropriate structural devices, and can be from any genre – e.g. thriller, horror, comedy, romance, historical, fiction/non-fiction – but the tone and construction needs to fit the purpose and the audience. Is it a page turner?
Deadline: Tuesday 28 May 2013
THE FICTION DESK GHOST STORY COMPETITION
The Fiction Desk's Ghost Story competition is open to all English-speaking writers aged 16 or over. There's a first prize of £500 and a second prize of £100; both winners will also be published in an upcoming Fiction Desk anthology.
Entries should be between 2,000 and 5,000 words in length. The entry fee is £6 for one story or £9 for two stories submitted together.
'Ghost story' can mean a lot of different things, from an encounter with an actual phantom to more unusual paranormal phenomena and unexplained events. All types are welcome, so feel free to experiment!
Deadline: Friday 31 May 2013
PAPATANGO NEW WRITING PRIZE
The Papatango New Writing Prize 2013 will be open for submissions from March 11 (midnight) until May 31 2013. Plays considered should not have been professionally performed and musicals, adaptations and children's plays are not eligible.
The competition is open to all UK residents and limited to one submission per person.
There is no age limit.
Prize:
The successful applicant will guarantee a full production of their play on the professional London stage at one of London's most acclaimed new writing venues. The will aslo secure publication of their work by one of the UK's leading theatre publishers.
- A full four-week run at Finborough Theatre in November 2013
- The play script will be published by Nick Hern Books
The winner will be announced on August 1 2013
Deadline: Friday May 31 (Midnight) 2013
BRIAN WAY AWARD
This year's award is for a new play which was professionally produced between 1 October 2011 and 31 January 2013. The winner of the awardwill be expected to undertake an ambassadorial role for Theatre Centre. The prize is £6000 for the successful applicant.
Applications may come from the writer, the writer's representative or the producing company.
Deadline: Friday 31 May (12 noon) 2013
THE BRIDPORT PRIZE
One of the richest writing competitions in the UK, the Bridport Prize is open to all nationalities aged 16 years and over.
The poem and short story categories each have a first prize of £5000, second prize £1000 and third prize £500. An additional 10 supplimentary prizes (for each category) of £50 each are awarded.
A new category for flash fiction with a prize of £100 was launched in 2010. There is a second proze of £500, 3rd proze of £250 and three supplimentary prozes of £25.
The Dorset Award is a prize specifically for Dorset writers and a prize of £100 is awarded to the highest placed Dorset writer in the Bridport Prize each year.
Deadline: Friday 31 May 2013
June
SCOTTISH INDIE COMIC BOOK AWARDS
The award is open to comic book artists, writers and publishers who have created or publ;ished a sequential work within the medium of comic book/graphic novels: a work which was published between May 2012 and May 2013.
Award categories:
Best Comic Book or Graphic Novel (5 shortlisted nominations)
Best Artist (3 shortlisted nominations)
Best Writer (3 shortlisted nominations)
Best Cover (3 shortlisted nominations)
Nominated shortlisted submissions will be on display at Plan B Books on Parnie Street (Glasgow) and will be part of a voting area at Glasgow Comic Con at the CCA on the evening of Saturday 13 July.
Deadline: Saturday 1 June 2013 (17:00)
THE ANTHOLOGY
This is your chance to create your very own online magazine with a £2,000 budget.
Ideas Tap are looking for another group aged 16-30 with a strong editorial vision to create a brand new publication. To apply, you must be a group of three or more people. You can be from any creative background – illustration, animation, film, literature, photography, performing arts – anything at all.
Deadline: Friday 7 June 2013 (17:00)
ADRIENNE BENHAM AWARD 2013
Theatre Centre offers the Adrienne Benham Award, a £2,000 seed commission, to support the work of a promising playwright interested in exploring the Theatre for Young Audiences sector, but who has little experience in the field. The award is intended to steer gifted writers towards young audiences by giving them a seed commission and attachment to Theatre Centre as they develop an original idea for young audiences.
Entries from established Young People’s Theatre writers will not be considered. Applicants must be resident in the UK.
Prize: £2000 seed comission and attachment
Deadline: Friday June 7 2013
V.S PRITCHETT MEMORIAL PRIZE
The 2013 V.S. Pritchett Memorial Prize for best unpublished short story of the year is open for entries.
Prize: £1000 plus publication in the RLS review as well as in Prospect (online).
Deadline: Thursday 13 June 2013
DR GAVIN WALLACE FELLOWSHIP
An annual award for a writer based in Scotland, the Dr Gavin Wallace Fellowship has been created to enable a writer based in Scotland to develop their craft and to produce a work of quality. The fellowship will carry a stipened of £20,000 for one year. Applicants are invited to send written proposals, accompanied by a CV, to the address below by 17 June 2013. Please enclose a sample of your work to date (no more than 10 pages). Proposals should include a brief (250 word) outline of the project, including a working title and a proposed date for completion. Applicants should also state in what way they plan to draw on Scotland’s literary canon in the creation of their work.
Deadline: Monday 17 June 2013
IMPRESS PRIZE FOR NEW WRITERS
The prize is in its seventh year and its aim is to find exciting new, unpublished writing talent. The winner will receive a publishing contract from Impress Books and will be chosen from a shortlist by a panel of judges working in the book industry.
The prize is open to anyone aged 18 and over who has NOT published a book-length publication before and can be both fiction and non-fiction.
Entries should comprise a book proposal and a sample chapter of no more than 6,000 words.
There is an administrative charge of £10 which can be paid by PayPal through the linked website or by cheque addressed and posted to Impress Books Ltd.
Deadline: Monday June 17 2013
NAWE PRESENTS THE POETS COMPASS: A CONFERENCE FOR SCOTLAND'S EMERGING POETS
Are you at an early stage in your journey to becoming a poet? Want some insider tips on how to get your poetry seen and heard as well as in print? Live and work in Scotland?
In a packed day of workshops, talks and panel sessions, the conference will cover a range of advice and practices to encourage emerging poets.
The conference will cover:
- The state of poetry publishing today and what you can do to make editors sit up and want to publish you (Neil Astley, editor of Bloodaxe Books, is our keynote speaker)
- What it means to be a poet today – how you can follow your own path, reach different audiences and be creatively fulfilled
- The role of the small press, magazine and writers’ network in helping emerging poets to make their poetry public
- Getting involved in spoken word and performance poetry events
- The benefits of working across platforms and collaborating with other artists and sectors
- Plus workshops on pamphlet poetry, poetry online, doing it for yourself, and poetry residencies
At the end of the day, there’ll be drinks and socialising, and a comprehensive information pack to take away to help you start planning the next steps in your journey as a poet.
Tickets: £25
Location: Glasgow
Date: Saturday 29 June 2013
FAR OFF PLACES
Far off places are looking for submissions of poetry or prose on the theme of 'Under the Bed' to be published in their third issue - which will be available in the lead up to Halloween.
Poetry submitted should not exceed 40 lines (3 poem maximum) and prose should be limited to 2000 words.
Deadline: Sunday June 30 2013
BOOKTOWN WRITERS SHORT STORY COMPETITION
The competition will be judged by Sam Kelly, Head of Creative Writing MA at Edinburgh Napier University.
July
THE WILLIAM SOUTAR WRITING PRIZE
Applicants must be 16 or over and can submit up to two poems of up to 40 lines in either English or Scots.
First Prize: An Arvon writing course at Moniack Mhor (for which the normal fee would be approximately £600), or another of the UK Arvon centres.
Second Prize: £100 in book tokens.
Local Prize: £50 will be awarded for the best work from a resident of Perth and Kinross.
The winner will be announced on Writer's Day, Saturday 31st August 2013, at the AK Bell Library, Perth.
Deadline: Tuesday 2 July 2013
UNDERCURRENTS MAGAZINE: CALL FOR WRITING SUBMISSIONS
Undercurrents Magazine, a publication of critical and creative writing from Glasgow's art scene, are open for submissions to their fourth issue, due to be released in Summer 2013. Submissions can centre around critical discourse, exhibition reviews and news of exciting projects, ranging from 500-2500 words in length. The magazine also welcome enquiries from anyone developing an idea they'd like to feature in the publication.
Deadline: Monday 22 July 2013
9TH ART: THIS YEAR'S BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL
Full length graphic novels published in English between May 2012 and July 2013 are eligible for this award.
A cash prize (TBC) will be awarded to the best work of graphic literature originally written and published in the English language anywhere in the world between 1st of May 2012 and 1st of July 2013. The prize is administered by Graphic Scotland in collaboration with the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
Deadline: Wednesday July 31 2013
August
THE WILLIAM HAZLITT ESSAY PRIZE
Notting Hill Editions is delighted to launch an annual literary prize for the best essay in the English language, of between 2,000 and 8,000 words, published or unpublished, on any subject. The award is named in honour of William Hazlitt (1778-1830), the great master of the miscellaneous essay.
The prize will be judged on the originality of the ideas, the quality of the prose and the ability to communicate to a wide audience.
MANCHESTER FICTION PRIZE
The Manchester Writing School is launching the 2013 fiction prize - a major international literary competition, celebrating excellence in creative writing.
The 2013 Manchester Fiction Prize will award a cash prize of £10,000 to the writer of the best short story submitted. All entrants are asked to submit a story of up to 2,500 words in length. The story can be on any subject, and in any style, but must be fiction and new work, not previously published or submitted for consideration elsewhere during this competition.
Deadline: Friday 30 August 2013
MANCHESTER POETRY PRIZE
The Manchester Writing School is launching the 2013 poetry prize - a major international literary competition, celebrating excellence in creative writing.
The 2013 Manchester Poetry Prize will award a cash prize of £10,000 to the writer of the best portfolio of poetry submitted. All entrants are asked to submit a portfolio of three to five poems (total maximum combined length: 120 lines). The poems can be on any subject, and in any style, but must be new work, not previously published or submitted for consideration elsewhere during this competition.
Deadline: Friday 30 August 2013
THE LADY ENLIGHTENER BOOK SERIES
Contributors saught to write articles for the Lady Enlightener Book series which has been set up to compliment and raise funds for their all seed group major project (click here for details).
Articles must be fun but factual easy reading. Payment is in a royalty basis.
For further information, please contact Linda Lunan on lindalunan@yahoo.com.
Deadline: Saturday 31 August 2013
AESTHETICA CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION
Aesthetica Magazine is inviting all writers and poets to submit their work into the Creative Writing Competition.
The Creative Writing Competition is a fantastic opportunity for existing and aspiring writers and poets to showcase their work to a wider, international audience: previous entrants have gone on to achieve success and recognition across the world. There are two categories for entry: Poetry and Short Fiction. Each winner will recieve a prize of £500.
Deadline: Saturday 31 August 2013
September
SCOTTISH ASSOCIATION OF WRITERS: AUTUMN EQUINOX OPEN COMPETITION
Applicants may submit work on the theme of the 'Natural World' within one of three categories.
- Short Story entries should adhere to a minimum length of 1500, but must not exceed 2000 words.
- Poetry submissions must not exceed 40 lines.
- Young Writers (16-25) should complete a story of 1000-1500 words.
Entry fee: £5
Deadline: Saturday 21 September 2013
NEW WRITING SCOTLAND 32: OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS
The thirty-second annual volume of New Writing Scotland will be published in summer 2014. Submissions are invited from writers resident in Scotland or Scots by birth, upbringing or inclination. All forms of writing are welcome and a maximum length of 3,500 words is suggested.
Deadline: Monday 30 September 2013
October
NATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION
The National Poetry Competition is currently accepting submissions from anybody above the age of 17. All poems must have a title and can not exceed 40 lines in length (excluding title). Entries can be on any subject. The first poem submitted costs £6. Subsequent entries in the same submission cost £3.50 per poem. Poetry Society members (including those joining at time of submission) get a free second entry, with subsequent poems at £3.50.
Prizewinners will be notified by the end of February 2014 and invited to an award ceremony in spring 2014.
Prizes:
First Prize: £5000
Second Prize: £2000
Third Prize: £1000
Seven Commendations: £100
Deadline: Thursday 31 October 2013
General and Ongoing Opportunities
PUFFIN REVIEW: SUBMISSIONS WELCOME
The Puffin Review welcomes submissions of fiction, poetry or journalism.
Fiction submissions should be flash fiction of up to 500 words, short stories or stand-alone novel extracts of up to 3,000 words. Poetry submissions should consist of three poems, with a maximum total of 150 lines. Articles can be a range of essays, reviews and opinion pieces of a maximum of 1,500 words.
SALT PUBLISHING: CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Salt publishing is actively seeking novel submissions directly from authors (of any experience). Work submitted should not exceed 80,000 words and should be written in English. Poetry, short stories or memoirs will not be considered at this time. Novels of particular interest would indulge the themes of fantasy fiction, crime fiction, literary fiction or 'Norfolk Gothic'.
WRITE FOR BRIGHT YOUNG SCRIBES
Bright Young Scribes are looking for writers to get involved with Freelance Friday - their weekly showcase of writing talent. Whether you specialise in journalism or not, BYS are interested in publishing your work. Article submissions of 300-500 words are invited on any topic pertaining to the creative industries, from music to fashion - anything will be considered!
Articles should be submitted by Wednesdays at the latest and the successful applicants will be informed should their work be deemed suitable for the week's publication.
THI WURD MAGAZINE: CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Thi Wurd, a fiction magazine based in Glasgow, are seeking submissions of short fiction and illustrations. Submissions should be no more than 4,000 words and there is no minimum amount.
NEW EDINBURGH WRITERS
New Edinburgh Writers meet every Wednesday from 6-8pm in Fountainbridge Library, near the leisure centre. The format can vary from week to week, but meetings usually involve members reading their own material and/or writing exercises with the occasional visiting professional writer.
The group welcomes all writers, including children's literature, drama, short stories and poetry.
Sessions run from the Wednesday 9 January - Thursday 5 December 2013.
EDINBURGH CREATIVE WRITERS CLUB
Edinburgh Creative Writers Club meets every Monday in Pulp Fiction Books, located at 43 Bread Street. Most people bring something to read and the range of style and form is wide. Further discussions have ranged from submitting to agents/publishers and dealing with writer's block.
STRANGER THAN FICTION WRITERS' GROUP
Stranger Than Fiction is a very informal and friendly writers' group for Edinburgh folk who are interested in writing non fiction. It’s open to anyone who is serious about non-fiction writing, whatever their level of publication/aspiration/activity. Most months the group will discuss a chapter or two of a member's current project and there will occasionally be guest speakers asked along. On the whole, it's a largely social event for non fiction writers including general chat and jokes about the use of the semi-colon.
Date: Monthly meetings from the Thursday 21 February- Thursday 21 November.
SCOTTISH POETRY LIBRARY AND HEMMA: POETRY WORKSHOP
Jennifer Williams, poet and SPL Programme Manager, facilitates this writing workshop suitable for writers at any stage in their career. We’ll read, write and discuss poems at each session.
Dates for workshops: Tuesday 19 Mar, Tuesday 30 Apr and Tuesday 28 May, 6 pm-8 pm.
SPL £5/£3 concessions & SPL Friends.
TELL ME YOUR TRUTH: CALL FOR ENTRIES
The Urban Fairytale Theatre Company are devising a performance with the working title 'Tell Me Your Truth'. The piece examines the way people seem to hide behind an online presence, scared of being seen for who they are.
The company would like members of the public to make their true selves visible by submitting stories. The stories will be used anonymously in the performance.
Click here to submit your story
PEN AND SWORD: NEW SOCIAL HISTORY IMPRINT
Pen and Sword Books is a successful publisher of military, local and family history titles. They are looking to broaden their list into other genres, specifically social history.
The aim is to publish titles that will appeal equally to social history lovers, fans of historical novels and family historians eager to flesh out their research. The imprint will tell 'people's history', revealing what life was like in the past for ordinary people through their own voices.
If you've got a suitable proposal, contact Jen Newby
SCOTTISH WRITERS CENTRE-WRITERS' HUB
The Scottish Writers' Centre will be holding a Writers' Hub every fortnight on Thursday afternoons from the 5th of April. The hub will allow writers to watch TED films of international authors speaking about writing, as well as the opportunity for book borrowing and chat.
For more information, visit the Scottish Writers Centre website.
ATTUNE THEATRE SCRIPT READING SERVICE
Attune theatre are inviting script submissions from playwrights of all experience. Attune will provide the opportunity to work with a Director and actors as they help you develop your script for performance.
For more information on the script reading service, contact Stewart Schiller
To find out more about Attune, visit their website
FREE STATE: SUBMISSIONS NEEDED
Free State, a quarterly PDF collection of essay, reportage and fiction, is looking for submissions.
For details on how to submit, click here
FRACTURED WEST MAGAZINE
Glasgow-based flash fiction magazine Fractured West are seeking submissions for their next issue. For more details and submission guidelines see their website
FROM LITERATURE TRAINING TO THE WRITER'S COMPASS
It’s all change for literaturetraining, the information and advice service for writers and literature professionals. Formerly a partnership project, it is now wholly part of NAWE (National Association of Writers in Education) as a lead partner. It also has a new name, The Writer’s Compass, which has been chosen to describe better its work helping writers to build and sustain their careers, and it will retain its remit to provide free information and advice on professional development for writers generally, not just those working in education. Its online directory, and all its other resources, can be found on the brand new NAWE website.
RECOMMENDED RETREAT: VILLA HELLEBOSCH
Villa Hellebosch is situated at Vollezele (Galmaarden), 25km south-west of Brussels, in a region of the Flemish Brabant, close to the linguistic border. Janice Galloway, a great writer and friend of Scottish Book Trust, says "I was offered a residency there last year and it's one of the most well-equipped places I've stayed in to write, with food laid on and very kind hosts who keep out of a writer's way. The place can be booked by those writers who can afford it and it seems a useful place for such writers to know about."
Find out more at the Villa Hellebosch website
HIGHLAND LITERARY SALON
Created in the tradition of the literary salons of Paris and New York, and based on the successes of similar gatherings in Edinburgh and Glasgow, the HLS brings together those with an interest in literature to discuss writing, ideas, projects, publishing, and all things literary.
The Salon will be on the third Tuesday of each month at Maverick's, 5 Young Street, Inverness, IV3 5BL.
Salons may feature writers, agents, and other literary professionals as guest speakers. More details can be found on the website
For more information, contact: info@highlandlitsalon.com
WEEGIE WEDNESDAY
Weegie Wednesday began in January 2007, inspired by Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature’s salon night (last Tuesday of every month at the Wash Bar, upstairs). Writers, booksellers, publishers, librarians, or anyone who wishes to network and talk books is welcome. Please pass the word. The meetings take place once a month at the following venue:
CCA (Centre for Contemporary Arts) Glasgow, 350 Sauchiehall Street, G2 3JD. Telephone : 0141 352 4900
For more information, please see the Weegie Wednesday website
For more opportunities for writers and literature professionals in the UK visit The Writer's Compass
MEMOIR WRITING COMPETITION
Woman & Home have teamed up with Hodder and Stoughton in their search for incredible real life stories.
If you've ever wanted to write about your experiences- or if you've ever been told that you should turn your life story into a book, then this is the competition for you!
The first prize is an advance of £10,000 and your life story published by Hodder and Stoughton.
THE BOHEMYTH: CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The Bohemyth Literary Journal is open for submissions of previously unpublished works of short fiction and personal essay. They are looking for contemporary short fiction with a literary bent, with ideas that affect, engage, move and entertain. The word count is less than 3,000 words for short stories and personal essays, and under 700 words for flash fiction pieces.
AN LUCHT LONRACH: CALL FOR STORIES, POEMS AND ARTICLES
An Lucht Lonrach are looking for contributors to write stories, poems and articles on Standing Stones and Circles throughout the world. Maximum word count is 300 words.
EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY OPEN STUDIES CREATIVE WRITING COURSES
Edinburgh Unviersity's Open Studies programme offers a number of creative writing courses. You can find out more about the courses by clicking on the links below:
Get Ready to Write Your First Novel
VISPO! Visual Poetry, Found Poetry and Other Experimental Forms