Press release: Ignite Fellowship to fire-up careers of professional writers

Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, has today announced that applications are open for the Ignite Fellowship. Now in its second year, the Ignite Fellowship recognises the achievements of professional writers and will offer tailored, practical and financial support to help writers find time and space to fire up their careers.

There are three awards available and Scottish Book Trust is working in partnership with the Gaelic Books Council, who will fund one of these specifically for a writer working in Gaelic. They also strongly encourage applications from writers working in Scots.

The Ignite Fellowship was developed in consultation with Scottish Book Trust’s Writers Advisory Panel and is a renovation of the previous Mentoring programme. The panel concluded that professional writers needed a range of support for their career. The Ignite Fellowship provides a flexible programme to suit the individual needs of the selected awardees.

Ignite Fellows will receive a £2000 bursary and tailored creative support to suit their individual projects. The fellowship will run for one year, from December 2019 to December 2020.

The inaugural Ignite Fellows have used the award to focus on diverse projects. Annie George is currently developing a treatment for a screenplay with her mentor Producer Alby James. Marjorie Lotfi Gill is working on a first draft of her project exploring the process of assimilation into a new culture. Gaelic Fellow Ruairidh Maclean has been working with mentor George MacPherson to reinterpret a body of traditional Gaelic legends.

Writers based in Scotland are encouraged to apply for the Ignite Fellowship. Applicants must meet the criteria for Scottish Book Trust’s Live Literature Database, though do not need to be on the database to apply. Applications are welcome from writers, comic makers, poets, illustrators, storytellers, playwrights and spoken word artists.

The Ignite Fellowship will support writers who are embarking on a particular project including novels, poetry, screenplays and radio scripts. To apply, writers must have a project that still needs work. This project can be in the very early stages of development, such as an idea, outline or pitch, or already a work in progress.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said:

“For the second year, the Ignite Fellowship will help writers develop their work and connect them with the help they need. Whether in English, Scots or Gaelic, we are looking forward to receiving submissions from writers across Scotland."

Ruairidh Maclean, Gaelic Ignite Fellow 2019, said:

"While my Ignite Project is multi-faceted, the most enjoyable part has been working with a mentor, George MacPherson, who has shared some of his traditional stories with me, happy that I shall be turning them back into the language – Gaelic – from which they originated. It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to work with George. The Ignite Fellowship opened a door for me into a special world which I hope I can help to reveal to others. It’s an opportunity to learn and share."

Alison Lang, Director of the Gaelic Books Council, said:

"The Gaelic Books Council is delighted that Làs/Ignite has given Ruairidh Maclean this excellent opportunity over the past year, and we hope that another established writer will find the same encouragement from the fellowship in the year to come. It is a pleasure to be working in partnership with the Scottish Book Trust once again to support Gaelic writers. Gaelic entries will be assessed by the Gaelic Books Council.

Awardees could receive:

• A £2000 bursary
• Tailored creative project support
• A week-long writing retreat at Moniack MhorOptional training in Press, PR and Social Media and Performance and Presentation
• A showcase event (to be organised with the selected writers)
• Networking opportunities
• Other reasonable support (including marketing, promotion and press) as needed
• Reasonable travel expenses for all trips to attend programme commitments

The fellowship will run for one year from December 2019 to December 2020.

Notes to Editors

For all media enquiries, please contact PR & Marketing Manager Keara Donnachie: keara.donnachie@scottishbooktrust.com(this will open in a new window) or 0131 524 0184.

Scottish Book Trust

Scottish Book Trust is a national charity changing lives through reading and writing. We inspire and support the people of Scotland to read and write for pleasure though programmes and outreach work that include:

• Gifting books to every child in Scotland to ensure families of all backgrounds can share the joy of books at home.
• Working with teachers to inspire children to develop a love of reading, creating innovative classroom activities, book awards and author events.
• Supporting Scotland’s diverse writing community with our training, awards and writing opportunities.
• Funding a range of author events for the public to enjoy and promoting Scottish writing to people worldwide.

In addition to the funding we receive from the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland, we need the constant support of trusts and foundations, corporate sponsors and individual donors.

Gaelic Books Council

The Gaelic Books Council is the lead organisation with responsibility for supporting Scottish Gaelic authors and publishers, and for raising the profile and reach of Scottish Gaelic books in Scotland and internationally.

Creative Scotland

In addition to general fundraising, Scottish Book Trust receives Creative Scotland support through Regular Funding. Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. It enables people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. It distributes funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery.