New Writers Awards

An annual award supporting emerging writers to develop their craft. For updates on application windows as well as writing tips and opportunities, sign up to our newsletter(this will open in a new window).

Awardees receive:

• A £2,000 cash award, allowing them to focus on their work
• Tailored personal development opportunities, which can include mentoring from writers and industry professionals
• PR, performance and presentation training
• The opportunity to showcase work to publishers and agents
• A week long retreat offering time, space and the freedom to create new work in idyllic surroundings

There are three categories, Fiction and Non-Narrative Fiction (also known as creative non-fiction), Poetry and Children’s and Young Adult Fiction. You can only apply to one category per year.

Entries are invited in English, Scots and a combination of both. There are also two awards for Gaelic writers, run in association with the Gaelic Books Council. Applications for Gaelic New Writers Awards can be written in English or Gaelic.

How to apply

Applications are currently closed.

There are four awards in Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction, three in Poetry and two in Children’s and Young Adult Fiction. Have any questions or concerns? Email applications@scottishbooktrust.com(this will open in a new window).

Check our Privacy Statement to see how we use and store information about your application.

Who can apply?

You can apply if you:

• Are aged 18 or over
• Are based in Scotland
• Are able to demonstrate a strong commitment to developing a career in writing
• Haven't yet published a novel, narrative non-fiction book (e.g. biography or memoir), a collection of short stories or poems
• Have previously published only non-narrative non-fiction
• Have work that's been any of the following: self-published, digitally published, published in a pamphlet, published as part of an anthology or magazine, or published academically (e.g. standard non-fiction, textbook, academic journal).
• Are writing a graphic novel or illustrated book (although the panel will only consider your writing, not any associated images)
• Are a carer/unemployed/unable to work for health reasons. If you have any questions about what this means for you, email us at applications@scottishbooktrust.com(this will open in a new window)

Who can't apply?

You can't apply if you:

• Have received a Scottish Arts Council New Writers Bursary, New Writers Award, Callan Gordon Award or Next Chapter Award
• Are currently in receipt of another award from Scottish Book Trust or Creative Scotland
• Are currently a student or planning to be in formal education (full or part-time) during the course of the award. You can apply when your course of study is completed.
• Are a writer registered on the Live Literature Author Directory. Illustrators and Storytellers who are registered on the database may apply to work on writing if they fulfil the criteria above. Performance poets who are registered on the directory may not apply for the Poetry category but may apply for other categories
• Already have a book publishing deal in place
• Want to focus on plays, screenplays or radioplays
• Are on staff at Scottish Book Trust
• Are on staff at Scottish Poetry Library and want to apply for the poetry category (the other categories are fine)

By submitting your application, you're confirming you meet the criteria to the best of your knowledge. Anyone who doesn't meet the criteria will be deemed ineligible and may be asked to return the award or withdraw their application.

A number of our awardees have been published by publishing houses including HarperCollins, Simon and Schuster, Harvill Secker, Atlantic Books, Vintage Books, Fourth Estate, Tapsalteerie and Sandstone Press. Other writers have won literary awards and prizes including the Manchester Fiction Prize and The Dundee International Book Prize.

View previous awardees