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New writer 2025: Jess Dolan

Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction

Jess Dolan is a writer based in the Scottish Borders. She is inspired by the relationship between people and places. Her work was shortlisted for the Bridport Short Story Prize 2024. She is working on a collection of linked stories.

Writing sample

An extract from:

The Debatable Lands

What would you say if it was a friend telling you this? That’s the old trick isn’t it? Give yourself the advice you’d give a friend. Rebecca imagines herself sitting down with a friend. How would she start? Putting words against what happened would give it form. Unsaid, it has no shape, a deniable chimera. What do you mean, says the friend in Rebecca’s head. What’s up? What’s happened? I’ve had a bad day, admits the Rebecca in Rebecca’s head. I bumped into someone at Tebay services. Someone I didn’t want to see. Tell me everything, says the friend, who did you see? Rebecca looks down and scuffs her toe into the carpet. Don’t be coy, says the friend, sit, tell me. So Rebecca sits down. She accepts the glass of wine the friend proffers. She leans forward slightly. Underneath the discomfort and the shame, there is still the thrill of gossip after all. The friend looks at her, head tilted. C’mon, tell me. Well, says Rebecca, about four years ago I slept with someone else. The friend squeals, wine spilling onto the back of her hand. You dog Rebecca! What happened? Who was it? Is it still going on? What about Robbie? Rebecca shifts, uncomfortable. It only happened once, she says, and hears how feeble that sounds. The friend pats her on the knee. Tell me from the start. How did this begin?

Jess says:

'I am so thrilled to be the recipient of a New Writers Award. It feels like such a vote of confidence in my writing and my development. I'm looking forward to seeing what the year ahead brings. Thank you Scottish Book Trust.'