Applications for the 2027 Gaelic New Writers Awards are currently open.
The deadline for all applications is Wednesday 29 July 2026 at noon.
The awards are free to apply to, all travel expenses are covered, and awardees are chosen by a panel of judges. We have an Access Fund to help support our awardees with any barriers they may face. The programme is flexible, and we work closely with awardees to help them participate as fully as possible.
The Awards will run from January 2027–January 2028. During the programme, awardees receive:
- A £2,500 cash award, allowing them to focus on their work (the bursary will be paid in two instalments)
- Tailored personal development opportunities, which can include mentoring from writers and industry professionals
- PR, performance, social media and presentation training
- The opportunity to showcase work to publishers and agents
- A week-long retreat offering time, space and the freedom to create new work in idyllic surroundings (subject to circumstances)
- A year’s free membership to Society of Authors as well as an SoA training session
All mentoring, training and performances include an option for remote attendance as needed. We’re very happy to discuss anyone’s individual access requirements prior to applying.
There are also two awards for Gaelic writers, run in partnership between Scottish Book Trust and the Gaelic Books Council.
The New Writers Awards will only go ahead in 2027 if Scottish Book Trust secure the funding required to run the programme. The retreat is also subject to circumstances and dependent on any applicable travel restrictions.
We welcome applications from carers, people who are unemployed or who are unable to work for health reasons.
How do I apply?
There is an application form to be completed for the Gaelic New Writers Awards.
Submit your application by noon on 29 July, 2026.
Who can apply?
You can apply if you:
- Are aged 18 or over
- Are based in Scotland fulltime. This means you have a Scottish postcode and are living in Scotland.
- Are committed to developing your writing, whether that’s fiction, narrative non-fiction, poetry, spoken word, YA, picture books or graphic novels (although the panel will only consider your writing, not any associated images)
- Haven’t published a full-length book, collection or show in the category you’re applying for
What do we mean by ‘haven’t published’?
You can apply if you:
- Have previously published only non-fiction (e.g. textbooks, guidebooks, standard history books, collections of humour/jokes)
- Have work that’s been: self-published, published in online journals/blogs, published in a pamphlet, published as part of an anthology or magazine, published academically (e.g. standard non-fiction, textbook, academic journal)
Who can’t apply?
You can’t apply if you:
- Have received a Scottish Arts Council New Writers Bursary, New Writers Award, Callan Gordon Award or Next Chapter Award
- Are currently in receipt of another award from Scottish Book Trust or Creative Scotland
- Are planning to be in full or part time formal education, including a Masters or PhD, during the course of the award (January 2027 – January 2028). Short courses and evening classes are fine. If you are an international student in Scotland on a fixed-term course, you can apply if you will be in Scotland during the course of the award
- Are a writer registered on the Live Literature Author Directory. Illustrators and Storytellers who are registered on the directory may apply to work on writing if they fulfil the criteria above. Performance poets who are registered on the directory may not apply for the Poetry or Spoken Word categories but may apply for other categories
- Already have a book publishing deal in place
- Have had any of the following published: a novel, narrative non-fiction book (e.g. biography or memoir), collection of short stories or poems, a picture book, or graphic novel.
- Want to focus on plays, screenplays or radio plays
- Are on staff at Scottish Book Trust
By submitting your application, you’re confirming you meet the criteria to the best of your knowledge. Anyone who doesn’t meet the criteria will be deemed ineligible and may be asked to return the award or withdraw their application.
Please read this page and the eligibility criteria carefully before writing and submitting your application. An application form is available here. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].
All applications will require the following information.
- Your personal details
- A sample of your work – fiction, non-fiction or poetry. Send us an example of the type of writing you would like to undertake should you receive the award
What do we mean by “fiction” and “non-fiction”?
Fiction is imaginary or invented prose, which can include short stories, flash fiction, novels and graphic novels.
Narrative non-fiction is a form of writing that is stylistically similar to fiction but used to tell factual stories e.g. memoir, travel writing and biography. This does not include text books, guide books, standard non-fiction history books or collections of humour/jokes.
For fiction/non-fiction, the following should be included in your application:
- A sample of your writing (in Gaelic only), such as a short story, flash fiction, several stories, a comic script (please do not include images) or an extract from a longer piece of work. You may also submit a combination of writing samples if you wish as long as it fits within the word limit. Word limit: 3,500 words
- If your sample is an extract from a longer work, please also include a synopsis. Word limit: 500 words
- Use Arial, 12pt, with double spacing. Pages must be numbered and include your pen-name (not your real name).
- Your pen-name will only be used to make your application anonymous for judging
For poetry, the following should be included in your application:
- Up to 12 pages of poetry (in Gaelic only)
- Use Arial, 12pt, with double spacing. Pages must be numbered and include your pen-name (not your real name).
- Your pen-name will only be used to make your application anonymous for judging
Assessment
Applications will be assessed by a panel from the Gaelic Books Council’s Board of Trustees. To ensure all applications are judged anonymously, applicants’ names will not be revealed to the panel – they will only see pen-names chosen by the applicants. Applicants will receive the panel’s final decision by December 2026 at the latest.
Applications
Applications should be sent by email to [email protected] with ‘Duaisean nan Sgrìobhadairean Ùra’ and your name in the subject line. Applications must be submitted by 12pm on Wednesday 29 July 2026.
