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Literature notices
Featuring notices and announcements from the Scottish Arts Council's Literature department about its activities, opportunities and other key notices about literature in Scotland. Be sure to check the International area of our website for more opportunities.
The Wigtown Poetry Competition
Cities of Literature 2008 Study Visit
Second Doric Book of Verse is being planned
Words in the World - July & October events
Publication of a New Series of Small Books by Black & White
The Poetry Society's National Poetry Competition 2008
The Global Short Story Competition is launched
100 Scottish Titles at the MLA Convention
China-UK Connections through Culture
Finborough Theatre
Fireworks looking to produce new scripts
500 Years of Printing in Scotland: 1508 - 2008
NAWE Conference; The Way Ahead: the future of creative writing in education
Edinburgh Bookcrossing Meetup
Playwrights' Studio Play sales
The Bridge Readings at the National Library of Scotland
Storytellers wanted for Edinburgh arts group
Live Literature Scotland - an updated scheme for 2007/2008
Calling all aspiring children's writers
Northwords Now
The Wigtown Poetry Competition is the largest poetry competition in Scotland, with over 2000 entries in its first year.
1st Prize £2500
2nd Prize £1000
3rd Prize £500
Gaelic Prize £1000
Ten supplementary prizes of £50 each
Winning poem and runner up will be published in the Scotsman.
Closing date: 5.00pm Friday 30th January 2009
Winners notified by Monday 6th April 2009
Winners announced in the Scotland on Sunday.
Prizegiving Lunch will take place in Wigtown on Saturday 2nd May 2009
Winners on the Wigtown website from Monday 11th May 2009
For further information and to download an entry form, please visit the Wigtown Poetry Competition webpage
Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust, in partnership with Arts Council England and the Scottish Arts Council, is seeking literature professionals working in strategic roles in the north of England and Scotland to take part in a group study visit to two Cities of Literature: Edinburgh and Melbourne.
As the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature, Edinburgh has a strong literary heritage and thriving contemporary scene. It is a ‘city built on books’ with the world’s largest international book festival, numerous libraries and prestigious collections, and booksellers, both new and antiquarian. Leading publishers and publications originated in the city, and a thriving publishing industry continues today. It is a noted centre of education, and has shared its expertise in learning all over the world. Edinburgh has been the inspiration for many classic works of literature, and world-famous writers live and work in the city.
Melbourne is bidding to become UNESCO’s second City of Literature, under the Creative Cities programme – a non-competitive, permanent designation that recognises a city’s literary credentials and aspirations for future creative development. As part of their bid, Arts Victoria and the Australian State Government have given $9 million to further develop Melbourne’s literature sector.
The Greater North Project
The Greater North project is a continuation of the Arts Council’s commitment to professional and artistic development across the literature sector and will build upon successful international visits to the Calabash Literature Festival in Jamaica (2005), the Festival of the European Short Story in Croatia (2006) and BookExpo America in New York (2007).
The project will be particularly well suited to those involved in audience development, literature festivals or literary events programming, readership development and those working for literature development agencies.
The project aims to provide those involved with the following:
Understand ‘Literary City’ concept - integrated/partnership working across the literature sector
Project Model Sharing – opportunity to learn/share project models
Literary City Knowledge - excellent working knowledge of two key literary cities
Network Development – increased network of contacts
Key Contacts – initial meeting with key individuals within delegates area of work
Sector Awareness – increased awareness of the burgeoning global Cities of Literature network, using two internationally recognised literary cities as clear case studies
All participants will be fully subsidised, but must cover the cost of their own travel and health insurance, attend all scheduled events and meetings, participate in a pre-visit conference call (in October, date TBC) and give detailed feedback about their experience.
The trip will take place in early November – the following are provisional dates but candidates must be available to take part in the whole trip:
• Tuesday 4 November – individuals travel to Edinburgh
• Friday 7 November – group travel to Melbourne
• Friday 14 November – group return travel to the UK
How To Apply
To be considered for involvement in this project, please request an application form from anna@cityofliterature.com. Return the application form with a covering letter of 200-400 words stating your reasons for wishing to take part, how you will benefit from the visit and, most importantly, how the future of your organisation and the wider literature sector will benefit from your participation.
Completed applications should be sent to anna@cityofliterature.com by 12 noon on Friday 1st August 2008. Arts Council representatives from the North East, North West, Yorkshire and Scottish regions will select participants by Thursday 14th August 2008. Please email anna@cityofliterature.com or telephone 0131 557 9821 with any questions.
This activity is subject to funding by Arts Council England and travel availability.
D’ye write in Doric?
Can ye write for bairns aged 3 – 8 years old?
If ye can answer Aye t’baith, read on.
“Fit Like, Yer Majesty?” is being published in September 2008 and is aimed at 8 – 14 year olds. We are now planning our second book and are looking for scrievers.
This Doric initiative is being led by Aberdeen City Council’s Reading Bus in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, Moray Council and University of Aberdeen. We are extremely grateful for the support, advice and guidance from Matthew Fitt. To ensure high quality illustrations accompany the poems and appeal to our target audience we are once again employing highly acclaimed illustrator Bob Dewar.
An Editorial Committee will select approximately 40 poems to appear in the book. Successful poets will receive payment either as £40 payment and one copy of the book or 5 copies of the book. The choice will be left to poets to choose their preferred option of payment. Any profits made from this venture will be retained to develop future books. Copyright of the poems will remain with poets.
We would be delighted if you would take the time to read through the accompanying brief and support us in this exciting venture. All entries must be submitted by 30th September 2008.
Please send all entries by email to doric@aberdeen-education.org.uk or by post to The Reading Bus Depot, Kittybrewster School, Great Northern Road, Aberdeen, AB24 3QG. Please do not send original copies as poems will not be returned. The editorial committee will meet in October and the successful poets will be contacted soon after.
Dinna be blate,
Help us create
A skweel-buik that’s braa
Doric for aa!
Guidelines for Poets:
• Poems should be written in Doric to appeal to 21st Century children of 3 – 8 years old on contemporary themes relevant to modern children.
• Language should be kept simple.
• Poems can have been previously published but this should be stated and poet should ensure they own the copyright.
• Poems should be between 4 and 8 lines in length.
• Along with entries please include your name, address, e-mail if relevant and phone number.
• Entries will not be returned.
• Closing date is 30th September 2008.
Words in the World is a year-long project inspiring people to explore their responses to the environment using writing.
In July and October there will be events for personal, political & ecological explorations for writers, singers, storytellers, activists, environmentalists, health & social service workers... anybody who would like their words heard in the world. Open mic sessions, land art workshops, and more.
Big Tent Festival, Falkland, Fife
26-27 July 2008
The Lapidus Tent
Book online at the Big Tent festival.
Falkland is near Kirkcaldy in Fife. Free bus from Glenrothes Bus Station
and Markinch Railway Station.
Residential Workshop
9-12 October 2008
Newbattle Abbey College
near Edinburgh
For more information and to book a place email Lapidus Scotland or visit the Lapidus website.
Black & White Publishing are delighted to announce the publication of a new series of small books, the "Say It In Scots" series, published by Black & white. The series has been launched with four titles:
- What's Like Us?
- Scottish Placenames
- Scottish Weather
- Scottish Wildlife
Find out more about each title on the Black & White Publishing homepage.
The Poetry Society's National Poetry Competition allows anyone who enters the opportunity to discover their own potential. Whether you are an established poet or someone new to writing, winning often provides the essential spur to take your writing further.
It is also an exciting opportunity to have your poems read by three of today's leading poets, booster the coffers with 35000 prize money, appear at the Ledbury Poetry Festival 2009, add your name to long prestigious list of past winners, free annual membership of the Poetry Society and - if all that wasn't enough - an annual subscription for Aesthetica Magazine, the new media partner for the competition. The judges this year are Frieda Hughes, Jack Mapanje and Brain Patten.
You can enter now on the The Poetry Society website.
The competition is the longest running poetry prize, and since it began back in 1978, has turned the spotlight on some exciting new poetry stars, as well as giving further encouragement to already established poets. As well as entering the National Poetry Competition 2008 to discover your own potential, you can judge your own favourite competition winner from the past 30 years on The Poetry Society website.
The Global Short Story Competition is launched
Aspiring writers from Scotland are being invited to enter a monthly short story competition that is aimed at writers across the planet. The inaugural Global Short Story Competition is designed to appeal to writers everywhere, from the arid outback of Australia to the baking deserts of Africa, the towering skyscrapers of the United States to the humid cities of Asia, the bustling capitals of Europe to the steamy villages of South America.
It is being run by Certys Limited, of Darlington, County Durham, England, a company which already has extensive experience in running such competitions in the UK. Previous competitions in which it was involved attracted writers from Asia, Europe, Australia and the United States as well as aspiring authors all across the UK and Ireland. Now, the company has launched a competition which will be marketed in countries across the world.
For more information and to submit an entry, visit The Global Short Story Competition website
The Scottish Writing Exhibition is taking over 100 Scottish titles to the Modern Language Association Convention this year in Chicago. Fifteen Scottish publishers will be represented at the MLA, the largest convention in the Humanities. Scottish Studies is a burgeoning field at the convention and among North American university departments, and the Scottish Writing Exhibition acts as reference and resource for international scholars of Scottish Literature and culture.
For more information, visit the ASLS website or the MLA website.
Are you looking to create links with Chinese Arts Organisations, unsure how to get started, or need guidance on how to over come bureaucratic hurdles to further develop links already established? Connections through Culture could be just the scheme for you.
China — UK Connections through Culture is a joint initiative between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Council with support from the Scottish Government. The initiative offers support, information, advice, networking opportunities and development grants to cultural organisations in China and the UK, aiming to build relationships and to develop exciting cultural collaborations between organisations in the two countries.
There is a website which contains a searchable database of organisational profiles and interests. All cultural organisations in the UK and China can register on the database to enable potential partner organisations to make contact.
For further information visit the Connections website, email Malena Malbaek, Projects Co-ordinator, British Council Scotland or telephone 0131 524 5729.
Finborough Theatre's Literary Department accepts unsolicited new plays. Scripts are dealt with by the Literary Manager and a team of script-readers in association with the Artistic Director.
Please read the notes on the Finborough Theatre website before submitting your work.
Fire Works is a young company based in Glasgow who are looking for writers who have plays ready to be produced by them.
They have approx five actors, all very keen to do Scottish work, and are looking for something to suit a 20 – 25 year age group, but not something as heavy as Look Back in Anger.
For more details and information email Judith Riddell or telephone on 07731571106.
In 2008, it will be 500 years since the first book was printed in Scotland. The project to celebrate this anniversary is promoted by the National Library of Scotland, the Scottish Printing Archival Trust and the Scottish Print Employers’ Federation and endorsed by the Scottish Government. A range of local events and initiatives across Scotland throughout the year is planned.
The aim of the celebration is to allow the public to see everything from the first printed Chepman and Myllar book to a modern day printing press. The project is supported by other organisations, including local museums and libraries throughout Scotland, the National Museums of Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland, the National Archives of Scotland and several universities.
Further information and a full list can be found on the 500 Years of Printing website.
Hands up if you've got some books to give away - keep your hand up there if you'd like to pick up some new ones absolutely free...In that case come along to the Bookcrossing Meetup in Edinburgh.
The friendly bookcrossers are easily identified by the piles of books that normally surround them. For more information and to register books, visit the Bookcrossing website and set your unwanted books free.
Play sales - A wide range of published plays by Scotland's playwrights is available from the Playwrights' Studio. You can buy discounted copies of texts direct from the studio - visit the Playwrights' Studio Plays Sales Page.
In the bookshop - A Play, A Pie and A Pint in print
You can now purchase Òran Mór's plays in print from the Playwrights' Studio's Bookshop. To find out what's available email the Playwrights' Studio.
Introducing a new series of literary readings by Scottish writers to be held monthly at the National Library of Scotland on George IV Bridge.
The Bridge Readings will showcase a writer each month who will read from their work, or take part in an 'in conversation', followed by an audience Q and A session and then a book signing. All for free.
It is hoped that the series will be hugely popular (and with the crème de la crème of Scottish writing appearing, how can it not be?) and grow to include more writers on each bill as well as an 'open' session for aspiring authors. Visiting international authors will also be included, when in town. The first three-month programme comprises AL Kennedy, Laura Hird and Alasdair Gray.
For further information on each individual session, please see our 'What's on' in Literature pages, or email Helen Loughlin, Organiser, The Bridge Readings or telephone 07784 319 868 or email Lynne Kontou, Cultural Events Officer, NLS, or telephone 0131 623 3842.
All events are free but ticketed. To book tickets, please email the National Library of Scotland or telephone 0131 623 3845.
Scott Brown of the Art Department is seeking a number of storytellers, artists and actors to join his art group which takes place every Saturday from 6-9pm at Leith Community Centre. The aim of the group is to create and build a character based on Scottish folklore and myth. If you are interested in joining the group please contact Scott by email or phone 07982214381.
Live Literature Scotland (LLS) is a national initiative that enables Scottish citizens to engage with the nation's authors, playwrights, poets, storytellers and illustrators, run by the Scottish Book Trust and funded by the Scottish Arts Council. The following key changes will improve this popular scheme:
- A 50% fee increase for writers taking part in the scheme
- 5 new funding streams to direct applications more effectively.
The scheme subsidises funding for literature activity through an application process.
For more information about how the scheme works, application guidelines and examples of successful events and projects, please visit the Scottish Book Trust website.
A meet-up group has been started in Edinburgh for aspiring children's authors. The group will meet on the second Monday of each month at Cafe Nero on Rose Street, starting in December. You can sign up online free of charge by visiting the Meet Up website and typing 'Edinburgh children's writers' meet-up group' in the search box. Although the group has been set up for aspiring authors, published authors would also be welcome, as they would have advice and experience to share.
Northwords Now is a free newsprint literary magazine, supported by the Scottish Arts Council and Hi-Arts, Inverness, with a print run of 6,000. The next issue of the magazine will be available from the second week of October. The magazine is available widely in the north but also in venues in Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway. You can also subscribe for 'home delivery' by sending a cheque for £6.50 for four issues, to Northwords, PO Box 5706, Inverness, IV1 9AF. Cheques should be made payable to Northwords.
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