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Opportunities for writers
There are lots of opportunities for writers in Scotland. We've collected and listed the current crop below.
For more opportunities (including workshops, retreats and advice), you might also want to look into our resources for writers, and our writing programmes; the New Writers Award, Ignite Fellowship and the Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowship. If you're under 18, why not check out What's Your Story?
Please note that we curate this list but don't run the opportunities listed. You can find free guidance on copyright and other issues on the Society of Authors' (this will open in a new window)advice page.
Always read the organiser's submission criteria.
Want to share an opportunity with us? Email andrew.blair@scottishbooktrust.com (this will open in a new window)
No Deadline
Primo Poetica
Looking for football poetry that will strike a chord across Europe due to the delayed Euro 2020 tournament.
Entry fee: None
Scottish Women's National Team Poets Society
Julie McNeill – the First Makar of the Scottish Women's National Team Poets Society - is looking for poetry inspired by the national women's team.
Entry fee: None
Loud Coffee Press
page one mentoring scheme - Johnson & Alcock
The Johnson & Alcock Agency are offering an online mentoring programme to underrepresented writers (including - but not limited to - Black, Asian, and minority ethnic candidates, those living outside of London and the South East, people with disabilities, and those from low-income families), with the aim of demistifying their industry.
Kalopsia Literary Journal
Looking for poetry, prose and visual art. Feedback will be offered where possible.
Entry fee: None
Bella Caledonia
The Bella Caledonia website is welcoming poetry submissions. Email your poems to bellasletters@yahoo.co.uk
Tether's End Magazine
Tether's End are looking for fiction, non-fiction, poetry, photography and art for their first issue.
Entry fee: None
July
James Berry Poetry Prize
Open to people of colour over the age of 18 based in the UK. Send in 10-12 pages of poems.
Deadline: Thursday 01 July
Entry fee: None
The McLellan Poetry Prize
A poetry competition. Winners may get to read their poem with judge Luke Wright.
Deadline: Sunday 04 July
Entry fee: £6
When Saturday Comes - football writing competition
A competition for amateur writers (defined here as someone who doesn't make their living from writing) from the independent football magazine. The top prize is £250 and publication in the magazine.
Deadline: 5pm Monday 05 July
Entry fee: None
Shoreline of Infinity: callout for disabled and/or neurodivergent writers
Shoreline of Infinity are looking for fiction, poetry and prose of any genre of science-fiction from disabled and/or neurodivergent writers. The submission window is between 11 - 13 July. See link below for more details.
Deadline: Tuesday 13 July
Entry fee: None
Butcher's Dog Poetry Magazine
Looking for poems from writers based in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland.
Deadline: Wednesday 14 July
Entry fee: None
Nine Arches Press: Primers
Primers is a biannual mentoring and publication scheme organised by Nine Arches Press, now in its sixth edition. It provides a unique opportunity for talented poets to find publication and receive a programme of supportive feedback, mentoring and promotion.
Deadline: Sunday 25 July
Entry fee: None
Clydebuilt Verse Apprenticeship Scheme
St Mungo's Mirrorball Poetry night, in partnership with the Edwin Morgan Trust, are offering a year long mentoring programme with experienced poets offering support to poets at the start of their careers.
Deadline: Sunday 25 July
Entry fee: None
EX/POST Magazine
Looking for poetry, prose, drama, art, essays, reviews and blogs.
Deadline: Saturday 31 July
Entry fee: None
Nyx Publishing
Looking for novel manuscripts in fantasy, science-fiction and associated genres.
Deadline: Saturday 31 July
Entry fee: None
August
Royal Society of Literature: Un/Natural
Un/Natural is a series of workshops for D/deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent participants which will run in September and October 2021, culminating in a paid show case on October 22nd.
Deadline: 5pm, Monday 12 August
Entry fee: None
Edinburgh Flash Fiction Award/The Golden Hare Award
An annual flash fiction award open to anyone over 16 living/studying in Scotland.
Deadline: Tuesday 31 August
Entry fee: None
Lancaster One Minute Monologues
Send up to three monologues in - they must be no longer than one minute long when read aloud.
Deadline: Tuesday 31 August
Entry fee: None
Ongoing Opportunities
Awards
The John Byrne award
The John Byrne Award is an online exhibition and competition exploring personal and societal values, open to anyone over 16 years old in Scotland. Creative writing and illustration welcomed. An award of £500 is offered quarterly, plus an annual award of £7,500. All entries are eligible for all prizes and all entries will be considered for posting on the John Byrne Award website and social media pages.
Entry fee: Free
The Zooker award
A new literary award that aims to encourage disadvantaged authors and reward works of social value. Single prize of £500, plus embossed certificate and featuring. Open to anyone who has published a book through Arkbound or any other publisher.
Entries can be made between 19th May and 10th October each year.
Entry Fee: £7.50 (concessions available)
Luna Press Publishing
Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dark Fantasy publisher who accept submissions on specific days each year.
Speculative Scotland (all writers born in Scotland): 25 January, 30 November Speculative Scottish Diversity (writers who identify as BAME (Black, Asian, minority ethnic), mixed-race or POC (people of colour) with a connection to Scotland either by birth or residency): 18 July, 02 October Speculative Novella: (all writers): 15 April
Entry Fee: None
Invisible Cities
Looking for previously unpublished poetry and prose.
Reading periods: 15 September–15 December
Entry fee: None
Call for Submissions
Speculative Books
Speculative Books is currently accepting unsolicited submissions of poetry. Send in a maximum of two poems.
Entry fee: None
The Dark Horse
The Dark Horse Magazine is accepting unsolicited submissions of poetry by post only.
Entry fee: None
Glasgow Review of Books
Lallans
Lallans is published twice a year and is the journal of the Scots Language Society. It includes poetry, fiction, reviews and articles in Scots.
Entry fee: None
The New Shetlander
The New Shetlander is a bi-annual publication looking for contributions of prose and poetry with a Shetland interest: all will be considered for publication.
Entry fee: None
Product Magazine
Product Magazine is currently looking for fiction, art and photography.
Entry fee: None
Shoreline of Infinity
Shoreline of Infinity is looking for science-fiction poetry and book reviewers.
Entry fee: None
Thi Wurd
Thi Wurd is a fiction magazine based in Glasgow. Submissions of short fiction and illustrations are welcome.
Entry fee: None