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:
VACANCY: CHAIR IN CREATIVE WRITING, UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING
Attractive salary package
Applications are invited for a Chair in Creative Writing to commence on 1 September 2010 or as soon as possible thereafter. The successful applicant will be an established writer in any genre, have a strong research interest in creativity in education, have the ability to communicate, teach and inspire, and be able to innovate and generate exciting teaching programmes. The department would welcome applications from individuals who have more than one genre in their portfolio: fiction, poetry and drama, but also (for example) prose, life writing, travel writing, biography/autobiography, feature writing and creative journalism.
Closing date for applications: Thursday, 18 March 2010 @ 12 noon.
VERY SHORT STORY COMPETITION - 247 TALES
247 Tales is an online writing competition from Bloomsbury that challenges young writers to create stories using only 247 words or less. Launched in 2009, the competition was a great success with over 100 entries each month.
In 2010, the competition is back. Each month a different Bloomsbury author will pen a 247tale on a certain theme. It is then over to the UK's buddin writers aged between 8 and 16 to create their own miniature masterpiece.
Go to 247tales.com for all the info
SALTIRE SOCIETY LITERARY AWARDS 2010 -CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Nominations must be for books published between 1st September 2009 and 31st August 2010.
Please submit copies of the nominated book with a completed entry form by 3rd September 2010: Sarah Mason, The Saltire Society, 9 Fountain Close, 22 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1TF
More information on the Saltire Society website
MA TELEVISION FICTION WRITING:
GLASGOW CALEDONIAN UNIVERSITY
This is an exciting new partnership between the media industry and education that is ready to produce the next generation of market ready script writers. It focuses solely on writing for the growing television sector which is a key element of the Scottish, UK and global economies. If you want to develop your creative writing skills for television, please contact matv@gcal.ac.uk or visit the website www.tvfictionwriting.com. A variety of Industry Sponsorships is also available.
FROME FESTIVAL SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2010
For stories on any theme of 1,000 to 2,200 words, judged by Kate Harrison and Paula Williams.
1st Prize £300
2nd Prize £150
3rd Prize £75
Winning stories read by top London literary agent.
Entry fee: £5 per story (plus s.a.e. for return if required)
Multiple entries permitted. Entries should not have been
published. Closing Date 31st May 2010.
For full application information visit www.fromefestival.co.uk. Queries can be directed to Frome Library, tel. 01373 462215 or email queries to ffshortstorycomp@yahoo.co.uk.
Critiques and returned stories will be posted by end of Sept 10.
THE FIELDING PROGRAMME AND HOTHOUSE, APRIL 2010
The Fielding Programme is a specialist residency programme for new and early career writers. In Spring and Autumn each year it offers the opportunity to develop professionally with one-to-one mentoring from Polly Clark in the spectacular and inspiring surroundings of Cove Park on the west coast of Scotland, an hour from Glasgow.
Bookings are now being taken for the Spring 2010 Fielding Residencies which run for four weeks from Monday 29th March at Cove Park. Weeks begin on a Monday. Fees for one week are £395. For projects needing more time, second, third and fourth weeks are discounted by 10%. Based on single occupancy Monday-Sunday writing and mentoring support. Largely self-catering.
We are also booking for the Spring 2010 Fielding Hothouse, an intensive weekend residency for budding writers. Led by poet Polly Clark and novelist Toby Litt, it packs all the energy and know-how of a much longer and more expensive course into one fantastic weekend at Cove Park Friday April 30 – Sunday May 2. Fee £350.
Go to www.fieldingprogramme.com
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.
Upcoming Salons: March 16, April 20. Salons may feature writers, agents, and other literary professionals as guest speakers. See more at www.highlandlitsalon.com. 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:
Upstairs at The Universal Bar
Sauchiehall Lane (directly behind Waterstones in Sauchiehall Street), Glasgow
Forthcoming meetings will take place from 7.30pm on:
Weds 17th March 2010
www.weegiewednesday.webs.com
HOW TO WRITE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN: RESIDENTIAL COURSE IN FRANCE
From Tuesday 13 to Sunday 18 April 2010, Award-winning author of over seventy books, Alan Durant, is running a sixth residential course for adults interested in writing for children at his house in Picardie, France (an hour’s drive from Calais).
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. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve written a little or a lot – or not at all! The cost per person is £395, which includes tutoring fees, accommodation and delicious home-cooked meals (travel available from New Malden to Picardie for a £65 Supplement).
For more details about the course, pictures and booking forms visit Alan’s website www.alandurant.co.uk or email alandurant@blueyonder.co.uk or on 07944 374 734.
PERSPECTIVES - NEW CREATIVE SCOTLAND WEBSITE
Designed to engage the artistic and creative communities, this discussion forum is your chance to share your views on the emerging role of Creative Scotland, the new national development body for the arts, culture and creative industries. Creative Scotland will invest directly in Scotland’s talent. It promises to be as imaginative as the sectors it will serve.
Perspectives aims to break new ground in practitioner engagement. It will also generate and share information and intelligence to develop the sector, as well as informing and directing future engagement.
Keep up-to-date on forum developments by logging on to www.perspectives.creativescotland.org.uk
For more opportunities for writers and literature professionals in the UK visit http://www.literaturetraining.com/
