Writing Awards

Launched in 2014, the writing competition is one of the festival’s most enduring successes, providing an opportunity for first-time writers to be published alongside established names.

The awards ceremony is often where we discover what our festival is really about, as writers from across Scotland and further afield take inspiration from our theme in poignant, powerful, personal and often ingenious and surprising ways.

Entries for our next writing competition will open in 2026.

Read the eBooks

Each year, the winning entries are published in an illustrated book, also available as an eBook. You can read all the shortlisted and winning entries from each year of the competition by clicking on the links below.