News from the sector
At Scottish Book Trust we get lots of people telling us about different opportunities for writers in Scotland. Here's the current crop:
THIS WILL EXPLAIN EVERYTHING - AN OPEN CALL TO COMIC ARTISTS AND ILLUSTRATORS
Forest Publications seeks work from artists who combine words and images in various ways. This anthology will be an imaginary encyclopaedia called This Will Explain Everything and we want a range of exciting, creative entries to fill it with.
Full submission information here
NEW WRITING SCOTLAND SUBMISSIONS SOUGHT
Submissions are invited for the twenty-eighth annual volume of New Writing Scotland, to be published in 2010, from writers resident on Scotland or Scots by birth, upbringing or inclination. Work must be neither previously published nor accepted for publication and may be in any of the languages of Scotland. Submissions deadline is 30th September 2009.
Download information form here (PDF)
MARKINGS 29 SUBMISSIONS SOUGHT
Allied to the poetry performance space, The Bakehouse, Markings brings writers directly to people, in print, in performance and on film and the Internet. It also carries features on art and reviews which aim to review work you won’t find in the High Street bookstore but which is shaping today’s literary culture. See www.thebakehouse.info.
We always look forward to receiving all submissions. The deadline for Markings 29 is August 7th 2009.
WRITER IN RESIDENCE FOR PLAYWRIGHT WITH DISABILITY Scotland's Birds of Paradise Theatre is offering a commission and a residency of 18 months to a disabled playwright. The residency will allow the writer the space and time to research and develop their work and produce a script. The position will also include delivering outreach activities relating to the residency.
Salary: £15,000. For more information, contact all@birdsofparadisetheatre.co.uk or call 0141 339 1155. Closing date for applications is Friday 10 July, 5pm.
CBBC DRAMA: OPEN SUBMISSIONS OPPORTUNITY
CBBC are looking for the next generation of CBBC writers, with fresh perspectives, original voices, and the ability to create unforgettable characters.
If you've got what it takes you need to submit a 30 minute TV script by Wednesday 1st July using the online application form on the BBC Writers Room website.
THE FIELDING PROGRAMME
The Fielding Programme is a specialist residency programme for new and early career writers. Running in Spring and Autumn each year, it offers the opportunity to develop professionally in the spectacular and inspiring surroundings of Cove Park on the west coast of Scotland and to receive one-to-one mentoring from Polly Clark. Join us in Autumn 2009 and make real progress with your work.
Full details at www.fieldingprogramme.com
2009 BBC NATIONAL SHORT STORY AWARD
The 2009 BBC National Short Story Award was launched on 26 March. This year's panel of judges are: singer-songwriter Will Young, broadcaster and journalist Tom Sutcliffe (chair), author Dame Margaret Drabble, Orange Prize winner Helen Dunmore and BBC Radio 4’s Editor Di Speirs. The shortlist will be announced on Friday 27 November with the five stories broadcast on BBC Radio 4 each weekday before the winner is announced. The five stories will also be published in a special collection.
Entries are now being accepted for the award here
THE BRIDPORT PRIZE 2009 FOR POETRY AND SHORT STORIES
The Bridport Prize is currently open for applications. The Bridport prize for both short stories and poems is open to anyone. For more information visit the website:
MA TV FICTION WRITING AT GLASGOW CALEDONIAN UNIVERSITY
An exciting new partnership between the television industry and Higher Education is ready to produce the next generation of professional script writers. This masters focuses solely on writing for television. A number of industry sponsored places are available.
See TV Fiction Writing website for more details
THE SCREENWRITER'S CAREER GUIDE
4 July 2009, Central London
Adrian Mead, the Scottish-based screenwriter and director who led our hugely successful Screen Lab earlier this year, is offering this day of tuition in London. This will be a day jam packed with the very latest career building opportunities for screenwriters and filmmakers. No screenwriting theory, just a clear guide to the shape of the Film and TV industry as it is now and how it is likely to develop.
Full information and course registraion here
NATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION 2009 OPEN FOR ENTRIES
The 32nd National Poetry Competition is now open for entries. Past winners include Carol Ann Duffy, who is a possible future poet laureate, Jo Shapcott, Ian Duhig and Tony Harrison. The competition judges poems anonymously, ensuring that the award often generates vigorous debate and shock wins for previously
unknown writers.
Weighing up the merits of up to 10,000 poems will be Daljit Nagra, Neil Rollinson and Ruth Padel – who is also in the news as potential Oxford Professor of Poetry. Ruth gives a few tips on what she and her fellow judges will be looking for in a winning poem: "We shall be looking for original, imaginative and surprising poems, with their own voice and energy, that say something which hasn’t been said before. Crafted, but not self-conscious about it, no lazy words,
and a beautiful, convincing movement through."
Enter the National Poetry Competition 2009 here
WORK IN PROGRESS: A CRITICAL READING SCHEME FOR SCOTLAND'S WRITERS
HI~Arts is delighted to announce that its highly successful critical assessment scheme for writers - Work In Progress - is now open to writers across Scotland!
From the beginning of April 2009, Work In Progress is available on a pilot project basis to writers across Scotland, and is open to writers working in adult general fiction (English and Gaelic), non-fiction, poetry (English and Gaelic), screen, radio and drama, and in fiction and non-fiction for children. Please note - places are limited and are available on a strictly first-come-first-served basis.
Work In Progress assessments are free, mutually anonymous and our reading panel is comprised of some of Scotland's - and the UK's - finest writers in their chosen field. The project is for writers who are serious about their work, and serious about developing their writing. It is not suitable for those who are just beginning to write. The project provides writers with a detailed report on their work that is constructive, honest and full of helpful pointers and directions on making their work as good as it can be!
Get full terms and conditions, an application form and guidelines for submissions
UNDISCOVERED VOICES ANTHOLOGY
British SCBWI is pleased to announce that it is now accepting submissions for its second Undiscovered Voices anthology. This book will highlight unagented and unpublished British SCBWI members.
The anthology will include a dozen novel extracts from early readers to young adult novels. The objective of the anthology is to showcase new talent and promote its members to UK and US editors and agents. The anthology will be produced thanks to the kind support of Working Partners Ltd.
The Undiscovered Voices Website provides submissions guidelines as well as the list of literary agents and children’s book editors who will make the final selections for the anthology.
GLASGOW UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATE IN FILM JOURNALISM (Distance Learning)
The University of Glasgow Certificate in Film Journalism course consists of three courses:
• Film Reviewing
• Interview-based Feature Writing
• Film Feature Writing
Apply now for a September 2009 start.
YOUNG EDINBURGH WRITERS (YEW)
A monthly drop-in creative writing group for teenagers aged 13 -18 years. A great opportunity to meet other young people from across the city who enjoy writing. The last Thursday of the month from 4.30pm - 6.30pm in the South Bridge Resource Centre, Infirmary Street, (round the corner from Blackwells bookshop in South Bridge). All welcome. Cost £5 (includes refreshments). Led by Dorothy Baird, poet and experienced writing tutor. For more information contact Dorothy on 0131 449 3265 or email: dorothybaird@tiscali.co.uk
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:
Upstairs at The Universal Bar
Sauchiehall Lane (directly behind Waterstones in Sauchiehall Street), Glasgow
Forthcoming meetings will take place from 7.30pm on:
Wednesday 17th June
Wednesday 15th July
Wednesday 12th August
Wednesday 16th September
THIS COLLECTION - CALL FOR ENTRIES We are looking for Edinburgh based poets and film artists to be a part of this collection a festival inspired by community, creativity and the celebration of the simplest observations of the daily going ons in our postcodes.
Find out more about this collection here
CCA LAUNCHING 2HB The Centre for Contemporary Arts in Glasgow are launching a new quarterly publication named 2HB and are seeking contributions from writers and artists. The focus will be on short pieces of fiction and also creative critical pieces on the themes of eroticism, sci-fi, philosophical fiction, art as writing and detective fiction.
They are looking for brave, new writers who are able to step outside the ordinary and command their readers to take note.
For submissions info as well as details of deadlines and publication dates check out www.cca-glasgow.com
For more opportunities for writers and literature professionals in the UK visit www.literaturetraining.com
William Letford
