Scottish Book Trust Searches Scotland for New Writing
Talent
Scottish Book Trust has
announced that applications for the New Writers Awards 2014 are
now open, "providing a unique opportunity for unpublished writers who live
in Scotland to pursue their dreams of becoming published authors."
Each year 11 new, unpublished writers receive financial support
to enable them to concentrate on their work, as well as professional guidance
to help them move towards publication.
Applications are open to Scotland-based writers who have not
published a novel, short story or poetry collection and "have a strong
commitment to developing a career in writing."
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. All recipients will also
attend a week long retreat at Cove Park, providing
them with time and space to work in idyllic surroundings.
There's some advice for applicants here.
Main details here. Cleckheaton Writers Group meeting 16 September 2013
Productive meeting last night where D, P, L, J and myself where in attendance. We kicked off the meeting by talking about the writing we have/not been doing since the last meet and then J gave us some information on the Huddersfield and Leeds Writers Groups he has attended, including advice he had received on characterisation which centred around family memories from childhood. He also recommended the London Review of Books and Crooked Cat Publishing which can be found on-line.
P then passed round the competitions leaflet she received with her latest issue of Writing Magazine and we discussed some of the free competitions coming up which may be of interest and the local events/Writing Festivals. I gave some information on the Peter Robinson author talk I attended last week and L and D revealed that they are volunteering at the Ilkley Literature Festival, where D will also be a guest blogger. None of the members thought they would be able to make the Red House Museum 'writing for radio and television' event on Sunday, but it was agreed that if any of the members do attend, they will feed back to the Group. D will be attending a Tracy Chevalier event and P and myself will be going to the Crime Panel at Birstall Library.
J recommended the play 'The gun I have in my right hand is loaded' as a guide to how not to write a radio play which led to a lively discussion.
D informed the Group that as she has still not heard back from the original agent re: TSC, she has sent more query letters out. We look forward to hearing how this goes.
L read out her writing challenge (she chose the annoying boss, bikini and fake illness) which was both humorous and descriptive. We really felt for her call-centre main character and could definitely see her boss, the 'knight in sweaty armour.' J particularly enjoyed this as well as the alliteration in the piece. We encouraged L to enter this into a competition and I suggested the Stylist magazine one.
L has also been working on her children's novel and had brought along her prologue. It was excellent and left the Group wanting more. It wrong-footed the reader, had some wonderful calm scenes to offset the action and had us all wanting to know who the figure in the hood was who had betrayed her character. We look forward to hearing more.
P promised that she is going to enter at least one competition in the next month and D recommended the #AskTheAgent that takes place live on twitter on Sunday nights at 8pm where any writer can ask an agent anything in 140 characters or less and get a quick answer.
Myself, D and L agreed that we may sign ourselves up for the NaNoWriMo writing challenge in November. This is an on-line challenge to write a 50k draft of a novel in a month.
The next meeting is in a fortnight on Monday 30 September 6-8pm at Cleckheaton Library. new members always welcome.
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