Neil Gunn Writing Competition 2023/24

High Life Highland and the Neil Gunn Trust are delighted to announce that from Monday 25^th September 2023, the 2023/24 Neil Gunn Writing Competition is open for entries.

This year’s lead judge is the author Merryn Glover, who lives in the Highlands of Scotland.

There are four sections to the competition:

Adult Poetry and Adult Short Story

The Adult Poetry section and Adult Short Story section are open to all writers worldwide. The writing should be inspired by the following quote from Bloodhunt by Neil Gunn: –

“Mystery. That was the last word, the word you came to at the end. No corner of its coverlet could you lift.”

The schools’ sections are open to pupils in selected year groups who attend Highland Council schools.

Secondary Schools

The secondary section is open to pupils from S3 – S6, whose writing should be inspired by the following quote from Highland River by Neil Gunn: –

“A moment of sheer unconditional delight.”

Primary Schools

The primary section is open to pupils from P5 – P7, whose writing should be inspired by the following quote from The Serpent by Neil Gunn: –

“A journey to another world.”

The closing date for all sections of the competition is Friday 08 March 2024.

The entry fee for adult sections of the competition is £10 per entry. For those wishing to submit both a poem and a short story the total fee is £18. Entry to the schools’ sections is free.

How To Enter

Rules, which give full entry information, and entry forms are available in the Downloads section.

Please save the PDF document to your computer and then use ‘Fill & Sign” to complete the entry form.

For all enquiries about the competition that are not answered by the rules or entry form, please email neilgunnwritingcompetition.com or telephone the Library Support Unit on 01349 781340.

The Neil Gunn Trust gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance provided by the following organisations: Glenwyvis Distillery Goodwill Fund; The Highland Council Ward 8 and the Lydia Michael Trust.

Further information on the work of the Neil Gunn Trust can be found at www.neilgunntrust.org.

Downloads