New Writers Awards 2024

It’s always a joy to shoot portraits of the recipients of the New Writers Awards.

The New Writers Awards is an annual awards programme supporting individuals committed to developing their writing. It began in 2009 and in 2010 incorporated two Gaelic New Writers Awards in association with the Gaelic Books Council. 2013 saw the introduction of an additional space on the programme thanks to the Callan Gordon Award for short story writers or poets aged between 18 and 35. The Callan Gordon Award runs every two years.

Awardees receive a £2,000 cash award, allowing them to focus on their work, as well as a tailored package which can include mentoring from writers and industry professionals; training in PR; performance and presentation training; and the opportunity to showcase work to publishers and agents. The awards also include a week-long retreat, offering time, space and the freedom to create new work in idyllic surroundings.

The Edinburgh weather was a bit dreich on the day of the shoot so we had to take the portraits inside this year.