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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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SBWN Name Change
As we continue moving forward into 2022, one of the biggest changes we've decided to make is to the name of our organisation.
We are now the Scottish BPOC Writers Network!
BPOC stands for ‘Black people, People of Colour’ and is a self-identifying term. BPOC better reflects our members’ communities and upholds one of our core values of self-identification.
We feel that this new name better reflects our aims, values, and community (and as a bonus, you can still abbreviate it to SBWN!). More details on our name change can be found on our website. You can also read our new Constitution here.
Over the next three months, we will be updating our online platforms to reflect our name change, aiming for our new programming to start by April 2022. Our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and email address have already been updated with our new name – see below:
Twitter: @ScotBPOCWriters
Facebook page: ScotBPOCWriters
Facebook group: Scottish BPOC Writers Network
Instagram: @ScotBPOCWriters
Email: scottishbpocwritersnetwork@gmail.com
We look forward to growing and evolving as the Scottish BPOC Writers Network with all of you!
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SBWN Live in Aberdeen
Our first in-person event of 2022, Blurring Borders, took place on Saturday 19 February at The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen. Curated by our Events and Fundraising Manager Mae Diansangu, Blurring Borders featured live readings from five queer writers of colour: Mae, Titi Farukuoye, Sanjay Lago, Areej Rahmani, and Myla Corvidae.
This event was part of LGBT History Month Scotland and was sponsored by Aberdeen Performing Arts, with funding from the LGBT+ Futures Intersections Fund. Thank you to everyone who came and to our wonderful performers and curator!
We hope Blurring Borders will be the first of many events spotlighting writers of colour for Aberdeen audiences. As we move forward, one of our goals is to host more events outside of Edinburgh and Glasgow in order to draw attention to the many talented BPOC writers of Scotland, wherever they may be based.
Keep an eye on our social media and website for news of future SBWN events across Scotland!
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Submission and Job 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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Publishing Scotland is looking for a Programme Support Officer (salary: £22,000). This is a 12-month post based in Edinburgh with some home working. Details here.
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The IASH/Traverse Creative Fellowship is open to writers with an idea/story for an ambitious and entertaining new play that speaks to the urgent issues impacting on our lives now and into the future. Stipend is £10,000. Candidates must have had at least one professionally produced play to be eligible. Details here.
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Emerging middle-grade & YA authors of colour: the Scottish Book Trust is offering a paid opportunity to be mentored by established authors of colour working in these genres. Learn more and apply here.
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The National Theatre of Scotland's Discover artist residency wants to hear from you! This residency is focused on discovering, doing research and initial development of an idea or new project in order to explore your artistry, ideas and process of making work. Find out more here.
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The National Theatre of Scotland's Develop artist residency wants to hear from you! This residency is focused on developing an idea and project to develop an idea or project to a first draft stage. Find out more here.
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Fiction writers, graphic novelists, poets, essayists: Knight Errant Press wants to read your work! Submissions close on 1 Sept. Guidelines here.
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Creative Scotland's Hardship Fund for Creative Freelancers is open for applications! This fund is for those working in the arts, screen and creative sectors who are experiencing loss of income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants can ask for £500-£2000 in support. More here.
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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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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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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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![A torn strip of paper with words printed on it against a pink background. Text: Blurring Borders. A live reading featuring queer writers of colour [£3-£11]. 19 February, 2pm, @ The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen.](https://mcusercontent.com/19a4a9595325f1eaa09a848b6/images/9ccd9e98-c1db-abc2-f427-001f1b4a39ae.png)
