New Writers Award: category guidelines

Our annual award for emerging writers has three separate categories, all inviting applications in English and Scots: Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction, Poetry 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
• A list of your writing achievements to date, such as publications, courses and similar. No more than 500 words.
• About 500 words letting us know how a New Writers Award would support your development as a writer.

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 and 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, 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, please also include a synopsis. Word limit: 500 words

Who is on the panel?

• Janice Galloway
• Tendai Huchu
• Denise Mina
• Alan Bett (Creative Scotland)

Poetry

We’re working in partnership with the Scottish Poetry Library(this will open in a new window) on the New Writers Awards for Poetry in English and Scots.

What do I need to apply?

For written poetry:

• Up to 10 poems, no more than 200 lines (not including titles and empty lines).
• If your sample is an extract from a longer work, we also need a synopsis. Word limit: 500 words.

For spoken word poetry:

• We encourage applications for spoken work artists as part of the poetry category and we are exploring options for further support. We accept written scripts to make applications as accessible as possible.

Who is on the panel?

• Jackie Kay
• Niall Campbell
• Colin Waters (Scottish Poetry Library).

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)

Who is on the panel?

• Lari Don
• Dean Atta
• Hannah Sycamore (Scottish Book Trust)

Apply now