New Writer Retreat Application Information

The Jura Malt Whisky New Writer Retreat
in partnership with The Times

 Application information for writers

Eligibility criteria

• The Retreat is open to writers of prose fiction who are UK residents, aged 18 years or over.
• Eligible writers should not be the sole author of a commercially published book but must have had at least one piece of prose fiction published in an established magazine or anthology. “Established magazines” here means a periodical that is published regularly (monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly), that has been in circulation for at least the past 12 months, has an ISBN or ISSN number and is not self published. Anthologies must have an ISBN or ISSN number and not be self-published. For avoidance of doubt online publishing is also excluded.
• Writers whose work falls solely in the following categories are not eligible to apply:
  
  
  • Playwrights
  • Screenwriters
  • Poets
  • Writers of non-fiction

The Retreat package
The writer will receive:

• A bursary of £2500
• Return travel costs from within the UK to Jura
• Sole use of the Jura distillery lodge on a self-catering basis for the month of October 2008
• The option to bring family and/or friends for all or part of their stay in the lodge (N.B. travel costs will only be covered for the writer)
• Use of a hire car for the month of October 2008 

Scottish Book Trust will also seek to negotiate the writer's agreement to:

• Produce one short story inspired by the retreat to be reproduced in a publication and/or in the media and/or online and/or via a podcast
• Acknowledge the Jura Malt Whisky Writer Retreat in their first published book
• Write a blog/article about their time on Jura for use on the Scottish Book Trust/Whyte & Mackay websites and/or in the press
• Participate in press and PR activity as required

Application process

Please fill in the application form, available to download here. Your application should include:

• Three copies of your completed application form
• Three copies of your submitted short story 

Short story submissions details

• The story should not exceed 3000 words.
• The story should be typed on single sides of A4 and double spaced.
• Please include your name and contact details on every page.
• Page numbers should also be included.
• Please only include the material we have requested.
• Submissions are limited to work written in English and must be the applicant’s own work. 

Entry Requirements

• The panel will not acknowledge receipt of entries and does not accept any responsibility for late lost or damaged entries. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.
• Entrants must supply full details as required above, and comply with all rules to be eligible for the award(s). Ineligible, obscene or fraudulent entries will be automatically disqualified.
• Please note that no stories entered can be returned.
• The Award Committee reserves the right to cancel this competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, and if circumstances arise outside of its control.
• The Award Committee reserves the right to refuse entry to the Award for any reason at its absolute discretion.
• The panel’s decision is final and no discussion will be entered into.
• Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and to agree to be bound by them when entering this competition.

Applications should be sent to:
Caitrin Armstrong, Writer Development Co-ordinator, Scottish Book Trust, Sandeman House, Trunk's Close, 55 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR

The deadline for applications is Monday 9th June 2008

Applications will be considered by a selection panel including Marc Lambert (Chief Executive, Scottish Book Trust), Erica Wagner (Literary Editor, The Times), Mic Cheetham (Literary Agent) and John Burnside (Writer).
Winners will be contacted by the week commencing 28 July.