The Scottish Book Trust, in association with Creative Scotland, has now launched its New Writers Awards 2017. The competition is open to any Scottish-based writer who has not published a novel, short story or poetry collection and is looking to develop their writing further. The winners will receive £2,000 and professional guidance and support towards publication as well as a week-long retreat at Cove Park which is an artistic centre in Helensburgh.

The competition categories are divided three ways into fiction and narrative non-fiction in English and Scots, poetry in English and Scots, and children’s and young adult fiction in English and Scots. The deadline for applications is midday on Wednesday 6 July 2016 and the winners will be announced in January 2017.

For more information or an application please visit http://scottishbooktrust.com/writing/scottish-book-trust-training-awards/new-writers-awards/apply-now