New Writers Award: category guidelines

Our annual award for emerging writers has five separate categories, all inviting applications in English and Scots: Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction, Scots, Poetry, Spoken Word and Children's and Young Adult Fiction. You may only apply for one category. 

Please read this page and the eligibility criteria carefully before writing and submitting your application.

All applications

All applications will require the following information.

• Your personal details.
• Writing experience: Please share with us list of your writing achievements to date. This could include journal publications, qualifications or anything that speaks to your writing experience. 500 words maximum.
• Personal statement: A personal statement telling us how a New Writers Award would benefit your development as a writer. 300 words maximum.
• What do you plan to work on?: Briefly, let us know what you hope or plan to be working on during the award period. Don't worry if this may be subject to change. 200 words maximum.

For all applications, a sample of your writing will be required – this is the most important part of your application and it will be judged anonymously by the panel during the first stage of reading. This sample will be slightly different depending which category you apply for.

Fiction and narrative non-fiction

Fiction is imaginary or invented prose, which can include short stories, flash fiction, novels and graphic novels.

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

What do I need to apply?

• A sample of your writing, such as a short story, flash fiction, several stories, a comic script (please do not include images) or an extract from a longer piece of work. You may also submit a combination of writing samples if you wish as long as it fits within the word limit. Word limit: 3,500 words
• If your sample is an extract from a longer work, please also include a synopsis. Word limit: 500 words

Apply for fiction and narrative non-fiction

Poetry

We invite applications from poets working in all styles.

What do I need to apply?

• Up to 12 pages of poetry
• If your sample is an extract from a longer work, we also need a synopsis. Word limit: 500 words.

Apply for poetry

Spoken word

We invite applications from spoken word artists.

What do I need to apply?

• Up to three audio or video recordings of your work (just you, no audience or musical accompaniment please), with one poem per recording.
• A transcription of the recordings.

Apply for spoken word

Children's and Young Adult fiction

Children's and Young Adult fiction is defined as prose or short stories for which the primary audience is under the age of 18. We are interested in a wide range of writing for younger readers.

What do I need to apply?

• A sample of your writing, such as a short story, several stories or an extract from a longer piece of work. Word limit: 3,500 words.
• If your sample is an extract from a longer work, we also need a synopsis. Word limit: 500 words.

For applicants submitting a picture book manuscript:

Our panel will consider scripts without images for picture books (although we understand if these can’t be separated). If you have any queries about this please contact applications@scottishbooktrust.com(this will open in a new window)

Apply for children and young adult fiction

Scots

We invite applications for poetry, spoken word, fiction and narrative non-fiction as well as YA and writing for children for our Scots category. We also accept entries in English, Scots, or a combination of both, for our other categories.

What do I need to apply?

• A sample of your writing that matches the category you are applying for (more information above).
• If your sample is an extract from a longer work, we also need a synopsis. Word limit: 500 words.

Apply for Scots

01/06/23: Page edited for clarification to add flash fiction into the category guidelines.