Scottish BPOC Writers Network provides advocacy, literary events, and development opportunities for BPOC writers based in or from Scotland. You can visit our website for more info, contact us through e-mail, or catch us on Twitter. We also have an online Facebook group for Black and POC writers.
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Call for pitches for the SBWN blog
We're looking for guest bloggers for our website! Our programme theme this year is 'Roots to Grow', and writers are invited to pitch a blog idea on any topic of their choosing around the theme. Please send a pitch and writing sample over to us - full details here.
Need some inspiration? Read our previous blog posts here.
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Don't Miss:
"Acceptance of the struggle and doing what we can with the energy we have is holding ourselves in kindness and generosity. And that makes us pretty damn amazing."
Our latest guest blog is by Nikki Kilburn, and is an affirming and necessary reminder of the importance of caring for one's self. Read her thoughtful words here.
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Asian Writers Group - 21 September
Our Asian Writers Group is returning after an August hiatus! Facilitated by Kelly Kanayama and guest co-facilitator Nasim Rebecca Asl, we'll be sharing work and writing together. Participants are encouraged to bring work on the theme 'invitations', though unrelated work is welcome too.
The Asian Writers Group is a free writers group facilitated by Kelly Kanayama. It is a monthly event open to writers of East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, West Asian and/or mixed heritage.
Book here on Eventbrite
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Metaphors for a Black Future
Metaphors For A Black Future is a free in-person event on 22nd October 2022 open to Black African/Caribbean diaspora writers (including mixed heritage) based in Scotland. Please email us to find out how to book a ticket.
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Our Time is A Garden
The entire series of Our Time is A Garden nature talks are available to watch on our YouTube Channel. The series was part of a collaborative research project led by Junior Anniversary Fellow at IASH, University of Edinburgh, Dr Alycia Pirmohamed.
Vahni Anthony Ezekiel Capildeo - Present, Not Pristine
Samaneh Moafi - On Forensic Architecture
Nina Mingya Powles - On Small Bodies of Water
Churnjeet Mahn - Queering Postcolonial Travel Writing
Amanda Thomson - On a Scots Dictionary of Nature
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Shout-outs to more of our members book launches and events!
20th-25th Sep: WayWORD Festival, Aberdeenshire, including Raymond Antrobus, Monica Ali, and SBWN members Bee Asha, Mae Diansangu and Rachelle Atalla celebrating her debut novel, The Pharmacist.
Sunday 25th Sept: Wigtown Book Festival
12pm, Rachelle Atalla celebrates her debut novel The Pharmacist, also online
1:30pm, Amanda Thomson discusses her memoir Belonging
4:30pm, Andrés N. Ordorica discusses his debut poetry collection At Least This I Know
Sat 1st Oct: Wigtown Book Festival
12pm, Hannah Lavery discusses her debut poetry collection Blood, Salt, Spring
3pm, Arun Sood celebrates his debut novel, New Skin for the Old Ceremony
4:30pm, Chitra Ramaswamy discusses her book Homelands
Find a Book Festival near you on Literature Alliance Scotland.
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Submissions & Opportunities
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Here are some projects that have reached out to SBWN. Here you'll find places to submit work, as well as various events, like webinars, workshops and mentorships. This is not an exhaustive list. Apologies for what we miss!
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Fiction writers, graphic novelists, poets, essayists: Knight Errant Press, which publishes queer books & stories, wants to read your work! Submissions close on 1 Sept. Guidelines here.
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Residency opportunity at the University of Granada. Travel expenses, accommodation and board covered. Writers need to have published at least two books in any genre. More info on how to apply here.
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Scottish Book Trust is hiring a Fundraising Officer. It's a full time position. Info on how to apply for the job here.
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Shoreline of Infinity's flash fiction competition on the theme of 'My Pet' is open for submissions here.
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Lagos/London poetry competition is seeking entries from poets from Nigeria or the Nigerian diaspora, on the theme of 'Homecoming'. Winners will take part in the Poetry Translation Centre's year-long Undertow programme. Info here.
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Call out for work inspired by instant noodles for The Instant Noodle Literary Review - poems, journalism, essays, fiction, and more. Submission info here.
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Merky Books New Writers' Prize is open for entrants of fiction, poetry and non-fiction, with publishing contracts up for grabs. Info on how to submit here.
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Fellowship opportunity for theatre makers interested in intersectional feminism with Stellar Quines, The Marilyn Imrie Fellowship. Open to theatre practitioners of any age, gender or career stage. Info here.
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Shoreline of Infinity's general submissions window is open for science fiction or fantasy short stories. They offer £40/1000 words. Submission info here.
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Gutter Magazine open for submissions of poetry, fiction or non-fiction. Pays £25. Submission info here.
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SBWN is looking for guest bloggers for our website. The programme theme this year is 'roots to grow', and writers are invited to pitch a blog idea on any topic of their choosing around the theme. Please send us a pitch and writing sample. Full details here.
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The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity (Canada) invites published writers in any genre to apply for their 2023 Winter Writers Retreat (16-28 January). Please note there is a programme fee and an application fee, although financial assistance is available. More here.
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Poetry festival StAnza is hiring a Communications Officer. October 2022-July 2023, freelance. Application info here.
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Publisher 404 Ink is open for book submissions of fiction, non-fiction and poetry, to be published in 2024. Submissions info here.
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Poems wanted on the theme of 'Take Notice' for Health in Mind. 10 poems will feature in a printed collection. Submit here.
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Glasgow Womens Library's annual creative writing competition is open for entries. This year's theme is Finding Your Place. Short stories or poems up to 1,000 words. Info on how to enter here.
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New Writing Scotland is open for submissions of prose, poetry, drama, screenplays and monochrome graphic artwork of up to 3,500 words. Submit here.
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True & Woke, a magazine for and by women of colour, is seeking submissions centred on women of colour’s lived experiences, the arts, and social impact. These can be blog posts, magazine articles, thought pieces, images, poetry, or short fiction. Guidelines here.
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Rusty Quill are seeking pitches from writers wishing to create short-form audio fiction. Shows can be speculative or non-speculative, between 2 to 8 episodes. Pitches should be for full-cast audio fiction, rather than audiobook or narration only. This is a paid opportunity, with Rusty Quill producing the show for release on its network. Full details (PDF).
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On the hunt for new children's books? Talas Books UK, a new online bookstore opened by Katrina Macapagal, specialises in Philippine children's books in transatlation.
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Harper North is open for direct submissions of fiction manuscripts and non-fiction book proposals - no agent required. Details here. Commissioning editor Daisy Watt is also available to writers of colour to give feedback on an extract & synopsis of work in progress; details here.
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Portobello Literary, a new literary agency, is looking for submissions from fiction and non-fiction writers at any stage of their careers. These categories include anything from speculative fiction, crime novels, niche literary works, food writing, culture, nature writing, popular science, and much more. Find out more here.
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Children's and YA writers: if you have a book released in 2021/2022 and are interested in being featured as a Scottish Book Trust Children's/Young Adult Book of the Month, contact Anna Broomfield (anna.broomfield@scottishbooktrust.com) Sample feature here.
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Creative Scotland's Open Fund is seeking funding applications from freelance or self-employed artists and creative practitioners. Funding amounts range from £500 to £100,000. Details here.
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Love science fiction? Shoreline of Infinity are looking for book reviewers who have a good knowledge of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Reviewers get a copy of the book (if a printed book is reviewed), a copy of the Shoreline of Infinity issue that their review is published in, and 10% off at their online shop. Apply to be a reviewer here.
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Scottish indie publisher, Shoreline of Infinity is seeking more BPOC sci-fi writers for their events and magazine submissions, especially prose sci-fi writers (both are paid opportunities). Each Event Horizon night gathers together SF writers and readers and features SF poetry, prose, music and sometimes a play excerpt. If it's not possible to travel, they can beam you in! Let Shoreline of Infinity know about you - email russell@shorelineofinfinity.com to read at a future event. Event Horizons are live-streamed - view past ones on their website.
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We're also on Instagram! If you aren't already, do consider following us on our Instagram platform here where we share the latest about our events, showcase our amazing network members and keep you in the loop. :)
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