Awards for Scottish writers

Scottish Book Trust has announced that applications for the New Writers Awards 2016 are now open, providing an opportunity for unpublished writers who live in Scotland to pursue their dream of becoming a published author.
The New Writers Awards are managed by Scottish Book Trust in association with Creative Scotland and each year they provide 11 unpublished writers with financial support to enable them to concentrate on developing their work, as well as professional guidance to help them move towards publication.
Each recipient will receive a £2000 cash award, as well as a tailored package including mentoring from writers and industry professionals, training in public relations, social media and performance and the opportunity to showcase their work to publishers and agents.
Applications for the New Writers Awards are open to Scotland-based writers who have not published a novel, short story or poetry collection and have a strong commitment to developing their writing. The deadline for applications is 5 August 2015 and the recipients will be announced in January 2016.
In order to provide the best possible support, the New Writers Awards are divided into three different categories. Writers may only apply for one category:
Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction in English and Scots
Poetry in English and Scots
Children's and Young Adult Fiction in English and Scots
The two poetry awards will be run in association with the Scottish Poetry Library.
Jenny Niven, Head of Literature and Publishing at Creative Scotland, said: “The New Writers Awards are perhaps the single most transformational opportunity for writers at an early stage in their careers in Scotland and have played a pivotal role in the development of a huge amount of writing talent.”
This is the eighth year that Scottish Book Trust has managed the New Writers Awards and so far the process has proved hugely successful in terms of developing the careers of more than 60 writers. Confirmed 2015 publications by previous New Writer Awardees include Kirsty Logan, recipient of a 2009 award, whose novel The Gracekeepers was published by Harvill Secker in May, 2012 recipient Lucy Ribchester, who has signed a two book deal with Simon and Schuster, with her debut novel The Hourglass Factory published in January, 2010 recipient Wayne Price's novel Mercy Seat was also published in January and 2008 recipient Kirstin Innes' novel Fishnet was published by Freight in May.
Any writer over the age of 18 may apply as long as they fulfil the criteria. Information  can be found at www.scottishbooktrust.com/new-writers-awards