Joining the Author Directory: Information for Writers

You must be a practising, published creative writer of fiction, poetry or literary narrative non-fiction.

Narrative non-fiction is a form of writing that is stylistically similar to fiction but used to tell factual stories, e.g. memoir, literary criticism, travel writing and biography. This does not include textbooks, guidebooks, standard non-fiction history books or collections of humour/jokes.

Writers should have at least one published book. This book will be:

• In print and published within the last ten years

• Published, marketed and sold to a reputable standard (e.g. widely available in bookshops in Scotland)

• Printed books that are sold online only are not currently eligible. Print-on-demand only titles are not eligible.

Please contact us if your book is published as an e-book only.

Playwrights who have had at least one professional production of their work performed within the last ten years can apply. This means that the company who produced your play is legally constituted, or a Scottish Society of Playwrights' contract (or equivalent) was in place or you received public funding, a commission or a fee for your work.

Performance poets who can demonstrate a regular record of professional performance over a period of at least two years can apply.

Your experience of professional performing should include:

• Featured sets of at least 15-20 minutes
• Sets which have been performed at a variety of events e.g. several different literary nights or festivals, run by different programmers
• Events which have been programmed and promoted to a reputable standard
  

Please note:

• Appearances at slams and open mics (unless as a programmed, featured poet) are not eligible.
• We will ask for a list of up to 15 of these appearances as part of your application (date, event, location, set length).
• Your range of past events can include events not held in Scotland; however, you should be able to demonstrate some recent experience of performing in Scotland.
• We may ask to see a recording of your work from within the last two years.

Traditional and contemporary storytellers on the Directory of Storytellers are eligible to be included on our database. First, please register on the Scottish Storytelling Centre’s directory then please email us with a link to your profile there.

Please note that storytellers who are listed on the Directory of Storytellers, but not on our directory, will not be eligible to carry out Live Literature events automatically as of Summer 2019. This is because we need everyone who is carrying out an event funded by Live Literature to agree to the Code of Conduct and have a profile on our site. You can set this up with us quickly and easily by emailing live.literature@scottishbooktrust.com. Please include a link to your profile on the Directory of Storytellers.

Writers who have six separate publications in a range of established literary magazines, journals or anthologies can apply. Your application will be accepted at the discretion of Scottish Book Trust. Academic publishing credits and online publishing are not included.

For literary magazines, journals and periodicals, please make sure your listed publications are:

• Published regularly (monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly)
• Produced to a professional standard
• In circulation for at least 12 months
• Have an ISBN or ISSN number
• Distributed in Scotland
• Not self-published
  

For anthologies, please make sure your listed publications are:

• In print and published within the last ten years
• Published, marketed and sold to a reputable standard (e.g. widely available in bookshops in Scotland).
• Printed books that are sold online only/through mail order only are not eligible. Print-on-demand titles are not eligible.
• Pamphlets published, marketed and sold to a reputable standard can be included as a publication. Please note: self-published pamphlets are not eligible.

Writers working in film, television, children’s television and radio can apply. You must be able to demonstrate significant experience working at a professional level to be accepted onto the database. This will include at least one of the following:

• A feature film script that has been commissioned and produced by a third party producer or production company, and was released theatrically in the UK
• A drama or professionally produced radio play/piece that has been commissioned and broadcast on TV, radio or through a reputable third party streaming service (e.g. BBC, Netflix)
• An extensive record of professionally produced short films that have screened in competition at a range of internationally recognised film festivals (see BAFTA recognised festivals list)
• A minimum of 2 years working on professional productions in a post that creates, commissions or guides the content of film, television or radio productions such as screenwriter, storyliner, story editor, development executive or creative producer.
  

Credits should include work that has been marketed and distributed in the UK to a reputable standard but may also include work distributed internationally. If your application only contains work that has been optioned or is still in development but has not yet been produced, we may ask you to provide a reference from the production company.

Graphic novelists, comics makers, cartoonists and illustrators consistently working at a professional level can apply. Please send in a CV including a list of credits and a link to examples of your work online (e.g. your portfolio on your website).

A self-published writer is someone who publishes their own work (in part or in full). This includes:

• Online and digital publishing
• Those who have paid for or contributed to payment of having their work published
• Those who own or direct publishing companies
• Publishing co-operatives
  

We assess applications from self-published writers at a panel.

• The panel meets to decide if the books submitted as evidence of self-published work are equivalent to industry standard. The panel assess self-published work based on the following: production values, editorial values, illustration quality (if applicable) and quality of content. Email live.literature@scottishbooktrust.com to send in a submission of self-published work.
• Due to the restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, a panel can only be arranged once we have enough applications to consider. We can currently only consider digital writing samples rather than hard copies while our office is closed.
• The panel cannot provide individual feedback on applications.
• The panel’s decision is final. If unsuccessful, you cannot re-submit the same piece of work to a future panel. You can submit new work or work that has been significantly altered. You can only submit under the self-published category three times but you can apply under a different category if you become eligible in another way.