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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
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
May
Scottish Poetry Choir taster session
The Scottish Poetry Choir is a new project from spoken-word poet and producer Anita Govan and harks back to the roots of poetry and theatre and is based on the classic format of the Greek chorus embodying multi-voice spoken verse.
The group follows the format of a community singing choir and meets regularly during the term time of the school year, with a performance scheduled at the end of each term. This innovative new format - the first of its kind in Scotland - gives members and the public opportunities to get involved and engage with poetry and spoken word in a fun and active way.
Entry fee: Taster session is free, choir membership is £40 per term
Date: Sunday 6 May
Register for the taster session or find out more by emailing: [email protected]
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators British Isles (SCBWI-BI) 2026 Undiscovered Voices competition
This biennial competition for Children's writers opens for entries between 3 July and 8 September 2025. To enter, participants should submit the first 2,500 words of their Chapter Book, Middle Grade or Young Adult novel, a 500 word synopsis, and a 35 word pitch. Fourteen to sixteen finalists will be selected by a panel of judges and their extracts published in an anthology which is distributed to literary agents and editors.
Entry fee: Free but only open to SCBWI members. A limited number of free memberships will be offered to underrepresented writers, deadline for applications Wednesday 28 May. Please see the website for details.
Deadline: Competition open Thursday 3 July - Monday 8 September
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
IHRAM Press call for submissions
The second issue of the IHRAM literary magazine aims to reflect on modern slavery practices and forced migration, dealing with personal challenges faced by migrants, such as mental-health, discrimination, and culture-shock. They're accepting poetry, short-stories, essays, and visual art.
Entry fee: None
Deadline: Sunday 1 June (earlier submissions much appreciated)
July
PhysiOdyssey call for submissions
PhysiOdyssey is open for submissions for their second issue. The journal accepts a wide range of submissions, as long as the work has a physiology theme. They encourage submissions from anyone with a background in physiology or a related subject, as well as from creative writers and artists with an interest in physiology.
Entry fee: none
Deadline: Thursday 31 July
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