Booker Prize winner joins call for Your Stories
Booker Prize winner and Glasgow born author Douglas Stuart has joined forces with national charity Scottish Book Trust to encourage people of Scotland to submit their real-life stories.
Article Source: Scottish Book Trust
First Published: 6 April 2021 13:08
Updated: 6 April 2021 13:08
The ‘Your Stories’ campaign is open to everyone, regardless of writing experience. This year’s theme is Celebration, with the hope of shedding light on the positives of an otherwise difficult year. The submission can be about celebrating yourself, celebrating a loved one, or sharing how you celebrate.
Douglas Stuart won the 2020 Booker Prize for his debut novel, Shuggie Bain (Picador), set in Glasgow in 1981, exploring love, poverty and pride.
Douglas said: “As someone who grew up in a home without books, I understand the importance of stories. They bring together families, friends and communities. Your Stories is an opportunity for the people of Scotland to pick up their pen and share their experiences: from the small steps to the bigger milestones. Our nation is rich with culture, language and traditions, and this is the perfect time to celebrate and treasure them.”
Submissions can be made in English, Scots, or Gaelic in any form – story, poem, comic strip, play or letter – of up to 1,000 words. Every entry will appear on Scottish Book Trust’s website and a selection of pieces will be published in a free book distributed to libraries, community groups and schools during Book Week Scotland (15 - 21 Nov 2021) – the national celebration of books and reading.
Scottish Book Trust has also commissioned authors to share their stories to mark Celebration. Author Elle McNicoll will explore her journey writing Show Us Who You Are (Knights Of) during lockdown, and the overwhelmingly positive response she has had from the neurodivergent community. Poet Courtney Stoddart will celebrate writing as a form of resistance. Author Ross Sayers will share fond memories of his English teacher, reflecting on school as a writer now himself.
Morag Law, author of Cuibhle an Fhortain (Wheel of Fortune, Luath Press), describes the pleasures of a new garden built during lockdown, and poet Eòghan Stewart will explore celebration in a poem about joy, salvation and the many nuanced translations of the Gaelic word gàirdeachas. His first collection, Beum Sgeithe (Wing Beat), will be published by Acair Books later this year.
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust said: “Sharing stories is a great Scottish tradition: whether over a drink or around the dinner table, we have a long-established culture of telling tales for comfort or entertainment. For many, Your Stories has been the tentative first step of sharing their writing. At Scottish Book Trust, we look forward to hearing about what you have celebrated over the last year, from the small successes to the bigger milestones.”
Alison Lang, Director of the Gaelic Books Council, said: “This year’s theme challenges us to find reasons for celebration in the midst of adversity. We hope Gaelic speakers will embrace the invitation to celebrate their language and tell their own stories – with some to be published alongside Morag and Eòghan’s pieces in this year’s Book Week Scotland publication. We are delighted once again to be working with Scottish Book Trust to encourage everyone to love reading and try their hand at writing.”
Scottish Book Trust will share a variety of prompts through their website and social networks to help inspire those hoping to submit. There will also be free, digital workshops run by poet Alice Tarbuck, writer Samina Chaudhry, playwright and poet Hannah Lavery, and film and TV writer Michael Lee Richardson. The digital nature of the workshops will allow the writers to engage with an audience no matter their location, allowing the opportunity to be as inclusive as possible. Given the current climate, online workshops can provide the public with a safe space to be creative, supporting positive mental health and wellbeing. For more information and to sign up to a workshop, visit Eventbrite.
Celebration is open for submissions from today until Friday 11 June 2021.
Submissions can be made online via Scottish Book Trust’s website or via post to:
Celebration, Scottish Book Trust, Sandeman House, Trunk’s Close, 55 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR.
Latest Lanarkshire News
The World Pipe Band Championships 2021, due to take place at Glasgow Green in August has been cancelled
The event, which would normally attract around 200 bands from around the world to compete, is expected to return to Glasgow in 2022.
Limited season passes available for theme park!
With restrictions starting to ease and more activities reopening, now is the perfect time to purchase a Season Pass for M&D’s Scotland's Theme Park!
Enjoy a holiday steeped in history at Rowallan Castle
For anyone looking for a holiday steeped in history then look no further than Old Rowallan Castle in Ayrshire.
Beat the Street Hamilton and Blantyre raises a further funds for Kilbryde Hospice
The Beat the Street challenge taking place in Hamilton and Blantyre has now exceeded its third charity target, raising a further £100 for Kilbryde Hospice!
Cumbernauld Theatre seeks community opinions
Cumbernauld Theatre Trust is reaching out to the communities of North Lanarkshire to understand the needs, interests, and challenges of the last 12 months.
Tickets now on sale for some of the top visitor attractions in Scotland
Scotland’s most famous historic heritage sites, including Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Urquhart Castle, are getting set to lower their drawbridges!
The Big Lunch is back!
The Big Lunch returns from 5th June, encouraging communities to come together to support each other after a challenging year.
Scottish Ballet announces two new dance films, created in collaboration with people living with neurological conditions
Scottish Ballet has unveiled two new dance films created in collaboration with people living with Parkinson's, MS and dementia, as part of their creative engagement project Haud Close.
Families encouraged to step in the right direction this spring
Scottish walking charity, Paths For All, shares ten ways to add fun activities to the familiar family stroll!
Dobbies launch new award to find best young gardeners in UK
Dobbies has announced the launch of its first-ever ‘Not Your Average Gardener’ awards, to find the UK’s best and most dedicated gardeners, including children and young people.
Special offer as gyms prepare to reopen
As lockdown restrictions ease, getting back to the gym is the top of many people's priority list.
New feature for two local parks
New solar lighting has been installed at Drumpellier Country Park and Duchess of Hamilton Park in Motherwell.
Scottish Opera reveals a programme of filmed and outdoor performances
Scottish Opera have announced two new films, premiering this spring, along with plans for over 200 outdoor performances this summer!
Aldi and Williams Bros call on Scots beer lovers to help name new brew
Aldi has teamed up with long-term supplier Williams Bros to give customers the chance to name a brand-new beer which will be sold in stores across the country!
Roddy Beats The Street for the Butchery Kitchen Feed A Family campaign
Former pro footballer Roddy McKenzie swapped the 18-yard box for Beat Boxes on Good Friday with a fundraising cycle ride around all 65 sensors in the Beat the Street Hamilton and Blantyre game.
Booker Prize winner joins call for Your Stories
Booker Prize winner and Glasgow born author Douglas Stuart has joined forces with national charity Scottish Book Trust to encourage people of Scotland to submit their real-life stories.
Dobbies reopens stores across Scotland
Following updated guidance from the Scottish Government that garden centres may open, the UK's leading garden centre retailer, Dobbies Garden Centres, has today reopened stores across Scotland.
The search is on to find the best gardeners in Glasgow
With the reopening of garden centres, the Incorporation of Gardeners of Glasgow are encouraging the public to take up gardening and have launched 'Let Glasgow Flourish' Gardening Awards 2021!
All aboard for special Skerryvore livestream from exclusive floating hotel Fingal
Multi-award-winning band Skerryvore have announced a special livestream show to be broadcast from Edinburgh’s exclusive floating hotel, Fingal on Saturday 24th April!
Theme park unveils new outdoor adventure zone for family fun!
A new outdoor adventure zone has swung into M&D's Scotland's Theme Park just in time for the holidays, allowing explorers of all ages a chance to enjoy a variety of adrenaline thrilled activities!
Go travel for bonus points in the Beat The Street Weekly Challenge
Players in the Beat the Street Hamilton and Blantyre game can clock up double points on Beat Boxes around traditional commuting hours during 'Go Travel' week!
Cultural and leisure services across South Lanarkshire will reopen from the end of next month
Following on from the Scottish Government’s announcement earlier this month on easing Covid-19 restrictions, a number of services will be able to reopen from Monday, April 26th.
Historic Environment Scotland sets out plans to reopen its properties
Scotland’s historic sites get ready to lower their drawbridges once more following the Scottish Government's route map to lift restrictions across mainland Scotland.
National Trust for Scotland gardens and grounds get ready for visitors again
The National Trust for Scotland is preparing to welcome visitors again at dozens of gardens and estates across the country this Spring!
Scottish Ballet announce two new dance films to celebrate International Dance Day 2021
Scottish Ballet is excited to announce the world premiere of two new dance films by company creatives Sophie Laplane and Nicholas Shoesmith.
TRNSMT Festival rescheduled to September 2021
TRNSMT Festival have today announced that this year's event will take place 10th – 12th September 2021 at Glasgow Green, rescheduled from July.
The Quay gears up for reopening!
Glasgow's leading entertainment venue, The Quay, gears up to welcome visitors again!
BBC Alba to screen The Last Dance
Runrig's full 3-hour concert film 'The Last Dance' will be screened on BBC Alba on Saturday 3rd April at 8pm!
Harry Potter and The Batman Trilogy Drive in Movie tickets on sale tomorrow
Set your alarms tomorrow as tickets for itison’s Harry Potter & The Batman Trilogy Drive-in movies at Hopetoun House go on sale tomorrow morning at 7.30am!
Go explore with Beat The Street Hamilton and Blantyre
The Beat the Street Hamilton and Blantyre game has already generated its first £100 donation to Kilbryde Hospice - just days into the game!
Sponsored Links
