Scottish Book Trust is delighted to announce the launch of the very first website to provide free creative writing support to all teenage writers and illustrators in Scotland.
www.thestoryis.co.uk will champion, showcase and encourage teenage creative efforts in literature, whatever form these efforts take. Part of Scottish Book Trust’s What’s Your Story? project, the website has been created with the help and advice of teen writers and illustrators.
The main element of the website is an online magazine which has three themed submission windows a year. All work accepted for the submission window will receive personal professional feedback from the editorial board and will be considered for publication on the website. Submission is open to young people throughout Scotland aged 13-19.
Nicole Brandon, Young Writers Co-ordinator at Scottish Book Trust said:
“This website’s purpose is to give Scottish teenagers with an interest in creative writing and illustration a chance to pick up new skills and get inspired about their shared enthusiasm for stories. We hope that it will be a big step towards establishing a teen literary community in Scotland which champions the range of creative endeavours pursued by Scotland’s young writers and illustrators, however they tell their story.”
Children’s author Alex Nye, one of the project’s mentors, said:
“It’s amazing to see these young writers launch their own online platform, and I hope this will be a defining moment for them. The purpose of the website is to create a literary resource for young writers, to allow them to share their work, a chance for them to get creative feedback on it, and to feel encouraged and inspired. I would have loved for something like this to have been around when I was a teenager, and it has been great to see these creative young people flourish in confidence over the past six months of mentoring.”
The first nationwide programme of its kind in Scotland, What’s Your Story? is intended to celebrate and nurture the talent and ambition of young writers and illustrators of all backgrounds, connect them with others across the country who hold similar interests, and help them shape the future of literature in Scotland.
Ten teenage What’s Your Story? ambassadors were appointed in November 2015 to help develop the programme for their peers, in collaboration with Scottish Book Trust and partners. Part of their role included the creation and development of www.thestoryis.co.uk.
www.thestoryis.co.uk has been created by teen creators, for teen creators, and is brought to you by Scottish Book Trust, Time to Shine, and The Gaelic Books Council.
