We are seeking a 14-17 year old Gaelic Writer or Illustrator for the What’s Your Story? Programme 2017-2018

Scottish Book Trust and the Gaelic Books Council are seeking a teenage creative writer or illustrator, working in Gaelic, to join the What’s Your Story?teen development programme for 2017-2018.

Who are we looking for?

  • Are you 14-17 years old, living in Scotland, and care about Gaelic creative writing or illustration?
  • Do you want to meet other teens interested in creative writing and illustration?
  • Do you want to improve your own Gaelic creative writing skills, or your illustration skills as a Gaelic artist?
  • Do you want to help create events and resources for other teens working in English and Gaelic?

If this sounds like you, read on to find out more about our What’s Your Story? Development Programme and how to apply to join us this year! It’s free to apply and to take part. All expenses are paid for any teen taking part, wherever you travel from and whatever access support you need.

What the opportunity is:

Exploring Scotland’s literary scene with your fellow teen participants and Scottish Book Trust. Learn what support and resources exist for creative writers in this country. This begins with a visit to the National Library of Scotland on Fri 8 Dec – Sat 9 Dec.

Receive professional mentoring from an established Gaelic writer, illustrator or poet in 1:1 sessions. You will not only learn more about your own creativity, and improve your own writing craft, you will have a chance to learn about what it takes to be a professional in that world today.

Go on a creative retreat from Mon 5 Feb – Sat 10 Feb 2018 in Moniack Mhor, Highlands. There you will meet and work with your mentor, and on your own creative work and projects for inspiring creativity in other teens.

Plan and host StoryCon 2018 – Scotland’s biggest creative writing and illustration conference for 13-19 year olds. Our teens will decide on the workshops, invite guest speakers, plan the day and help host nearly 200 other teens on a weekend near the end of June 2018.

Live Showcase – To celebrate the hard work of everyone involved, a creative showcase of the new work you will create with the help of your mentors will mark the end of the What’s Your Story? Programme in Autumn 2018

Does this look like something you want to be a part of? Then you are exactly who we want to hear from! Please apply by filling in the application form and emailing it to Nicole Brandon before noon on Monday 4th December. You can also ask Nicole any questions you have via email before applying. E-mail

Apply for the What’s Your Story? Programme2017-2018:

Scottish Book Trust andthe Gaelic Books Council

Deadline: Monday 4 December 2017, midday

This application can be made available in other formats on request. If you need assistance with making your application or have other access needs, please get in touch. For all enquiries please email:

We hope you’ll give us honest, thoughtful answers to our five questions; and a bit of Gaelic creative writing or poetry that you’ve written yourself, or samples of your illustration work. We aren’t looking for “the best” teen Gaelic writer or illustrator in Scotland. We are looking for somebody who cares about improving as a creative writer or illustrator, and improving things for teen writers and illustrators all over Scotland.

Sections on the application form (below):

  • 1. Your details.
  • Because we need to know who you are.
  • 2. What you want to write or create.
  • Because we want to know what kind of writer or illustrator you are, and want to be.
  • 3. Why you want to be part of What’s Your Story? 2017-18.
  • Because we need to know what we can do for you as a teen Gaelic writer or illustrator.
  • 4. A sample of your writing or illustration work.
  • Because we need to know that you are working creatively in Gaelic.
  • Your writing sample does not need to match what you want to write or illustrate if you are chosen for What’s Your Story? With us, you can work on something different if you wish. We only need to see evidence that you are writing and illustrating already.
  • Writers & Poets: please send at least 250 words of creative writing, or two poems. Do not send more than 1000 words, or four poems.
  • Illustrators & Comic Book Artists: Please send at least two pages of your work, and no more than six.

How to submit your application:

  • All sections of the form can be answered in Gaelic or English (there is no preference or penalty for using either language on the form), but the creative work sample must be in Gaelic.
  • Emailyour application
  • Subject line: ‘What’s Your Story?’ and your own name.
  • Deadline: Monday 4 December 2017 (midday).
  • Please send one email with this application form attached.

If you need to send a printed form, please post it to What’s Your Story?, Scottish Book Trust, Sandeman House, 55 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR by Mon 4 Dec 2017.

Part 1 of 4 - Your details

We need to be able to contact you if you are selected for the What's Your Story? Development Programme.

Your details will never be used to contact you except in relation to your application to the What's Your Story? Development Programme and to invite you to StoryCon 2018.

Personal details

First name/s
Second name
Your Area, Town or City
Postcode
Your age on Dec 4 2017 (you must be between 14 and 17 years of age on that date to apply)
Main phone number
Your Email
(We need this to let you know the outcome of your application – please ensure it is correct).
How did you find out about What’s Your Story?

If you are under 16 when you apply for What’s Your Story? please get consent from your primary carer (your parent or guardian) to apply, and fill in the box below.

If you are 16 or 17 when you apply, you can leave this box blank if you wish.

Primary Carer Details for applicants under 16

First name/s
Second name
Telephone number
Yes, I confirm I have consent of my primary carer to apply for What’s Your Story? / YES/NO

Part 2 of 4 - What you want to write

What kind of thing are you interested in writing or illustrating?

Examples include: Short Stories, Poetry (page), Poetry (spoken word), Novel, Journalism, Comedy Stand-Up Routine, Film/Movie Script, TV Script, Play, Radio Play, YouTube Video Script, Comic Book Art, Illustrations, Picture Books, Animation, and more.

Tell us what kinds of thing (or things) you are interested in creating, and why you are interested in that type of writing or illustrating in particular.

(Max 150 words, less is fine!)

What kind of thing are you interested in writing or illustrating about?

Tell us what sort of ideas, genres and stuff you want to write about. Be honest, we always enjoy hearing what kinds of ideas, stories and characters that Scotland’s teens want to create.
(Max 150 words, less is fine!)

Part 3 of 4 - You and the What’s Your Story? Programme

Why is learning more about creative writing or illustration important to you?

(Max 150 words, less is fine!)

Why do you think it is important for teenagers to be encouraged and supported as creative writers and illustrators in Scotland?

(Max 150 words, less is fine!)

Why do you want to be a part of the What’s Your Story? Programme 2017-18?

(Read about what happens with What’s Your Story? on the first page of the application, then tell us why you want to be a part of the programme and the things it will do in 2017-2018. What would change for you, if you were on this programme? What changes would you look forward to making for other teenagers?)

(max 200 words, less is fine!)


Part 4 of 4 - Your Gaelic writing or illustration work sample

Please copy and paste yourwriting sampleinto this application forminto the empty page below, taking as many pages as necessary within the word count.

Please remember:

  • This is just a sample of your writing or illustration which we need you to send with your application because we need to know that you are writing or illustrating creatively in Gaelic.
  • Your work sample does not need to match what you want to create if you are chosen for What’s Your Story? With us, you can work on something different if you wish. We only need to see evidence that you are creating already.
  • You are not being judged on “how good” your work already is. Enthusiasm and love of writing or illustration is most important to What’s Your Story?, not just talent and skill you may or may not already have.
  • Writers & Poets: please send at least 250 words of creative writing, or two poems. Do not send more than 1000 words, or four poems.
  • Illustrators & Comic Book Artists: Please send at least two pages of your work, and no more than six.

Title of your Gaelic writing or illustration sampleor samples

Any optional notes you wish to include. For instance, is it part of a longer piece of work? Did you write or illustrate it for a particular reason you want to tell us about?

Illustrators & Comic Book Artists: Save your art work digitally and email it as a .png, .gif or .pdf file with your application. Put the title of the work and your name in the file name.

Writers & Poets: Your Gaelic Writing Sample goes here!
Either attach your writing sample as a separate document to the e-mail you will send with this application form attached (put the title of the work and your name in the file name), OR copy and paste your creative writing sample below:

Ready to submit?

Please read over what you have put in this application form:

  • To make sure your application includes everything we need
  • To make sure your application says what you want us to know about you
  • To make sure your application is readable
  • And then submit the form (and possibly your creative work sample) by e-mailing
  • If you have any questions, ask Nicole by emailing – she is happy to talk to you about What’s Your Story? and teens who love Gaelic writing & illustration.
  • Good work and thank you for applying!

What do we do with your details and work sample after applications close?

We will use the application form and work sample to help us select our Gaelic participant for What’s Your Story? this year. Then we will safely destroy all of that information for unsuccessful applicants once the decision has been made. Copyright to your creative work sample remains with the author at all times.

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