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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 and Ignite Fellowship. If you're under 18, why not check out our offering for Young Writers.
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 link will open in a new window)advice page.
Always read the organiser's submission criteria.
Want to share an opportunity with us? Email eilidh.akilade@scottishbooktrust.com(this link will open in a new window).
No Deadline
The White Pube Creatives Grant
A one-off £500 grant to be given out to a different working class creative practitioner based in the UK once every month. It is run by The White Pube and funded by Creative Debuts. Open to those working on writing, art, performance, sound, music, craft, comedy and games.
Primo Poetica
Looking for football poetry that will strike a chord across Europe.
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
Find out more about Scottish Women's National Team Poets Society
Loud Coffee Press
Currently open to flash fiction, poetry and art submissions.
Entry fee: None
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 demystifying their industry.
Kalopsia Literary Journal
Looking for poetry, prose and visual art. Feedback will be offered where possible.
Entry fee: None
Bella Caledonia
Bella Caledonia is currently looking for essays, articles, reviews, analysis and features.
Entry fee: None
Creatives - Scottish Mountaineering Press
Looking for fiction, non-fiction, poetry and visual arts inspired by the Scottish landscape.
Entry fee: None
Find out more about Creatives - Scottish Mountaineering Press
Kelso Writers: Creative Writing for Well-being
Kelso Writers is offering an opportunity for people over the age of 16 who live in the Scottish Borders. As a result of funding from the Communities Mental Health and Well-being Fund, Kelso Writers is able to offer a series of twelve free online workshops and two in-person workshops designed to help people develop and improve their creative writing skills. The course will look at all kinds of writing including short stories, poetry, flash fiction and life writing. Topics covered will include the writing process; creating characters; use of dialogue; how to structure and plot a story; nature writing; and editing and presentation. To register interest and find out more please email kelsowriters@gmail.com
Entry fee: None
Find out more about Kelso Writers: Creative Writing for Well-being
Interpret Magazine
Interpret are open to any genre or form of poem or short story. More details at the link below.
Entry fee: None
Leopard Arts
Looking for poetry, prose, non-fiction, visual arts and music from the North East of Scotland.
Entry fee: None
November
New Writing Scotland Co-Editor
Association of Scottish Literature is currently seeking applications for a co-editor for New Writing Scotland. Applications are open to writers based in Scotland, with an extensive publishing record of their own. Previous editiorial experience is not necessary but would be beneficial. The role pays an annual stipend of £1,500.
Entry fee: None
Deadline: Sunday 26 November
Project 514 415
Project 514 415 invites art & literature submissions from those impact by endometriosis. All submissions will be included in a publication, documenting the project.
Entry fee: None
Deadline: Thursday 30 November
Emerging Writer Award - Moniack Mhor
The 2024 Emerging Writer Award (formerly the Bridge Award) is now open for entries. The award is open to unpublished prose fiction writers living in the UK with a collection of short stories or novel in development. The winner will receive a tailor-made package of support, worth up to £2,000.
Entry fee: None
Deadline: Thursday 30 November
December
Ringwood Short Story Competition 2023
Ringwood Publishing's Short Story Competition 2023 is open for applications. The competition especially seeks to support writers from underrepresented communities and writers who are at the beginning of their writing journey. Three prizes are available.
Entry fee: £2 per short story
Deadline: Friday 1 December
Black British Book Festival: Writers On The Rise
In a collaboration with Pan Macmillan, Black British Book Festival has opened applications for Writers On The Rise, an 8 week development programme for Black British writers. Applicants may be unagented, unsigned, and unpublished.
Deadline: Friday 1 December
Entry fee: None
Comedy Women in Print - Festive Flash Competition
Comedy Women in Print (CWIP) are now accepting entries of 250 words or less for their Festive Flash Competition. Funny, awkward & embarrassing festive stories are highly encouraged.
The winner will receive £100 and be published on CWIP's website. Five runner-ups will receive CWIP book bundles with festive ribbon.
Deadline: Friday 1 December
Entry fee: £1
BBC Writers' Open Call
The BBC is now seeking script submissions to find the best new writing talent. Scripts may be for comedy or drama.
Deadline: Tuesday 5 December
Entry fee: None
SSP@50 Fellowship Awards
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Scottish Society of Playwrights, ten fellowships will be awarded to exciting & bold playwrighting projects in Scotland. Fellows will receive a £4,000 bursary, along with tailored support & mentoring.
Entry fee: None
Deadline: Tuesday 19 December
January
The Letter Review Prize
The Letter Review Prize is now open for entries across five categories: Short Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Unpublished Books, and Reprints. The prize is open to applications globally.
Entry fee: $15/$20 per entry, dependent on category
Deadline: Monday 1 January
New Writing North - A Writing Chance 24/25
A Writing Chance is currently open for applications. The programme provides a package of personalised support to writers from working-class and lower-income backgrounds. 16 new fiction and non-fiction writers and journalists will be selected to work with one of three partner organisations: Faber & Faber, Substack, and The Daily Mirror.
Entry fee: None
Deadline: Monday 8 January 2024
March
Neil Gunn Writing Competition 2023/24
Poetry & short story entries are welcome for the Neil Gunn Writing Competition 2023/24. Writing should respond to the following line from Bloodhunt by Neil Gunn: “Mystery. That was the last word, the word you came to at the end. No corner of its coverlet could you lift.”
Deadline: Friday 8 March 2023
Entry fee: £10 per single entry, £18 for both a poem and short story
Anne Brown Essay Prize 2024
Entries are now open for the Anne Brown Essay Prize 2024. Essays can be on any topic, with a maximum word count of 4,000. Unpublished essays are especially welcome.
Entry fee: None
Deadline: Sunday 31 March 2024
Call for Submissions
Deadline
Fear of Making Art Press
Fear of Making Art Press (foma press) is seeking submissions for their first issue, on the theme of 'wild'. They welcome any interpretations of wildness - nature writing, horror, or something else entirely.
Deadline: Tuesday 31 October
Contact: fomapress@gmail.com
PENning
PENning, the Writers in Exile Committee’s biannual online journal, presents work by Scottish PEN’s member-writers alongside writing from people living in Scotland who are from other parts of the world. Submissions are now open for their 'Arrival' issue.
Deadline: 30 October
The Fiction Desk
Anthology publisher The Fiction Desk's winter submission call is open for general short fiction from September, and supernatural fiction from October.
Deadline: Wednesday 31 January 2024
No deadline
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
Thi Wurd
Thi Wurd is a fiction magazine based in Glasgow. Submissions of short fiction and illustrations are welcome.
Entry fee: None
Eemis Stane
Published digitally three times a year, Eemis Stane furthsets poetry, fiction, essays and polemics in Scots o ony and ilka variety, frae ilka airt and pairt. Poetry submissions can consist o up tae three poems, totallin up tae 75 lines. Prose submissions, o baith fiction and non-fiction, should be nae langer than 2000 wirds.
Entry fee: None
Glasgow Review of Books
Glasgow Review of Books is looking for translations and poetry.
Entry fee: None
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
SNACK Magazine
SNACK Magazine are regularly seeking poetry submissions.