Entries open for Scottish Book Trust New Writers Awards
The Scottish Book Trust’s New Writers Awards for 2016 are open for applications, with eleven prizes on offer to new writers from across Scotland.
Entries are welcome in one of three categories – Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction in English and Scots, Poetry in English and Scots and Children’s and Young Adult Fiction in English and Scots. Additionally, short story authors and poets from 18-35 can also apply for the Callan Gordon Award.
All eleven winners receive a £2000 cash prize, as well as mentoring and advice on showcasing and developing their work and a place on a week-long writers' retreat at Cove Park in Argyll and Bute. Past winners of the New Writers Award include Kirstin Innes, poet William Letford and The Gracekeepers author Kirsty Logan.
2012 winner Lucy Ribchester described the Award as “so much more than a badge to put on your writing CV.” She said: “The support you receive from Scottish Book Trust – partnering you up with inspiring mentors, championing your work at festivals, being a friendly ear when you need a career chat – goes way beyond the initial award year. And on top of that you get £2,000 and a week at Cove Park – what good reason is there not to apply?”
The New Writers Awards are open to Scotland-based writers who have yet to have a novel or poetry or short story collection published – full eligibility criteria can be found on the SBT website. The deadline for entries is 5 August.