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Opportunities for writers
There are lots of opportunities for writers in Scotland. We've collected and listed the current crop below.
For more opportunities (including workshops, retreats and advice), you might also want to look into our resources for writers, and our writing programmes; the New Writers Award and Ignite Fellowship. If you're under 18, why not check out our offering for Young Writers.
Please note that we curate this list but don't run the opportunities listed. You can find free guidance on copyright and other issues on the Society of Authors' (this link will open in a new window)advice page.
Always read the organiser's submission criteria.
Want to share an opportunity with us? Email [email protected](this link will open in a new window).
Submission calls and opportunities with upcoming deadlines
February
Focus Group: Generative AI and the Novel
BRAID UK University of Cambridge Research on Generative AI and the Novel is looking for group participents, inlcuding novelists. Have your say on how Generative AI could transform our industry by participating in this significant University of Cambridge research, funded by BRAID UK and in partnership with the Institute for the Future of Work. Participants will be remunerated for their time.
Where: Focus groups will take place in London, Edinburgh, and Manchester.
When: February-March
Jenny Brown Associates Debut Writers Over 50 Award 2025
Debut novelists based in the UK are invited to submit the first 5000 words of their novel to Jenny Brown Associates. The winner will receive £1000 cash prize, and a week’s course at Moniack Mhor Scotland’s Creative Writing Centre. Runners up will be offered tailored mentoring.
Entry fee: None
Deadline: Friday 28 February
Decadent Serpent’s Tragic Love Poetry Competition
Decadent Serpent invites poets to explore the darker side of romance in its Tragic Love Poetry Competition. £50 for the winner, as decided by the three judges, with potential publication for shortlisted works.
Entry fee: None
Deadline: Friday 28 February
Find out more about the Decadent Serpent’s Tragic Love Poetry Competition
The London Library Emerging Writers Programme 2025/26
The Programme, now going into its seventh year, is a unique opportunity which offers writers, in all genres, one year’s free membership of The London Library and includes writing development masterclasses, literary networking opportunities, peer support and access to and guidance in using the Library’s resources.
Entry fee: None
Deadline: Wednesday 26 February, 11am
March
SPAM Plaza: Submissions for Digital Dreamland
SPAM Plaza is now open for submissions for a new series titled Digital Dreamland. They are currently looking for essays, theory fictions, verse essays, visual essays and audio/video essays on the topic of dreams and the internet
Entry fee: None
Deadline: Saturday 15 March
Folkloric submissions open
Submissions will be open for Folkloric magazine between 24-28 March. They are interested in short stories and artwork that have a definite and striking speculative element.
Entry fee: None
Deadline: Friday 28 March
April
The Oxford/42 New Writing Prize
42 are delighted to announce the launch of a multi-disciplinary storytelling competition in conjunction with The Faculty of English at the University of Oxford. The Oxford/42 New Writing Prize is open to anyone aged 18 or over living, working or studying in the UK at the closing date for submissions. The winner will receive £1500 along with professional representation by 42.
Entry fee: Free
Deadline: Wednesday 30 April
Wet Grain Issue Six - Open Call for Submissions of Poetry
Wet Grain is a magazine for new poetry based in Edinburgh that's looking for submissions of poetry and prose (essays and reviews) for Issue Six, edited by Eloise Birtwhistle, Charles Lang, Nasim Luczaj, and Patrick Romero McCafferty.
Deadline: Friday 4 April 2025
June
Heroines Anthology - Volume 6 & Writing Prize
Submissions are open for the volume 6 of the Heroines Anthology and the 2025 Heroines Women's writing prize. Volume 6 is a special witchcraft-themed edition. The anthology is accepting poems and short fiction from women across the globe.
All submisssions will be considered for the prize; the winner will receive $500.
Entry fee: $15 per entry
Deadline: Monday 30 June 2025
Submission calls and opportunities with no deadline
Speculative Books
Speculative Books is currently accepting unsolicited submissions of poetry. Send in a maximum of two poems.
Entry fee: None
The Dark Horse
The Dark Horse Magazine is accepting unsolicited submissions of poetry by post only.
Entry fee: None
Thi Wurd
Thi Wurd is a fiction magazine based in Glasgow. Submissions of short fiction and illustrations are welcome.
Entry fee: None
Eemis Stane
Published digitally three times a year, Eemis Stane furthsets poetry, fiction, essays and polemics in Scots o ony and ilka variety, frae ilka airt and pairt. Poetry submissions can consist o up tae three poems, totallin up tae 75 lines. Prose submissions, o baith fiction and non-fiction, should be nae langer than 2000 wirds.
Entry fee: None
Glasgow Review of Books
Glasgow Review of Books is looking for translations and poetry.
Entry fee: None
Lallans
Lallans is published twice a year and is the journal of the Scots Language Society. It includes poetry, fiction, reviews and articles in Scots.
Entry fee: None
The New Shetlander
The New Shetlander is a bi-annual publication looking for contributions of prose and poetry with a Shetland interest: all will be considered for publication.
Entry fee: None
Product Magazine
Product Magazine is currently looking for fiction, art and photography.
Entry fee: None
Shoreline of Infinity
Shoreline of Infinity is looking for science-fiction poetry and book reviewers.
Entry fee: None
SNACK Magazine
SNACK Magazine are regularly seeking poetry submissions.
Autumn Voices
Autumn Voices seeks submissions by those aged over 60 years for their monthly newsletter.
The White Pube Creatives Grant
A one-off £500 grant to be given out to a different working class creative practitioner based in the UK once every month. It is run by The White Pube and funded by Creative Debuts. Open to those working on writing, art, performance, sound, music, craft, comedy and games.
Bella Caledonia
Bella Caledonia welcomes submissions of essays, articles, reviews, analysis and features.
Creatives - Scottish Mountaineering Press
Creatives is a digital platform for anyone who has found meaning in Scotland’s natural wonders to collaborate, share their artwork and find inspiration. They welcome works of poetry, prose and visual art from unpublished, emerging and established artists of all backgrounds.
Find out more about Creatives - Scottish Mountaineering Press