Edinburgh City of Literature Writer's Room Open for Applications
Keira Brown
Communications
Edinburgh City of Literature Trust
28 January 2025
Would you benefit from a paid desk residency in the heart of Edinburgh, the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature?
The Writer’s Room is a paid desk residency to give authors the opportunity to experiment, create new work or develop work in progress.
We have a dedicated space for use as a desk-residency on the top floor of our office in the glorious John Knox House, on the Royal Mile – in the heart of Edinburgh’s literary quarter.
This is our second iteration of The Writer’s Room and is available for two authors the first half of 2025. It’s available to authors with an EH postcode,and is in partnership with the Society of Authors in Scotland; we continue to seek help and feedback from you to assist us evaluate and shape this opportunity, and by applying you are agreeing to help us shape the offer. The space will be available within working hours Monday-Friday across that time, and with all office costs covered and the option for support and advice on making connections in literary Scotland and globally through our networks.
While selection is made at random, we are particularly keen to hear from working class writers and, diverse, and under-represented writers, and debut writers looking to make their next step.
What difference will this make?
Our charity was established in 2004 and since then we have delivered a wide range of local and international projects, for readers and writers, and have established an international network of 53 literary cities. UNESCO City of Literature is a stamp of quality, and industry professionals recognise this; the writers feel valued and connected to something bigger.
Recent research led by Literature Alliance Scotland tell us that writers/literary freelancers average annual full-time income in Scotland in 2022 was £21,140 – just under the Living Wage with 66% making under £20k. Our Writer’s Room creates a paid income programme for writers to help build their career and their portfolio, opening other opportunities.
Through the Writer’s Room project participants will receive £1,000 with free desk-space in an office in John Knox House across two months.
To the writer we offer flexibility, so that they can choose when to use the space and it fits around their life and other commitments. It must sit within the Edinburgh City of Literature Trust’s working hours.
Alongside this we will offer support and insight from the Edinburgh City of Literature Trust’s staff, drawing on their ample experience in the sector.
What is the offer?
The offer is made up of four elements:
• Space - a writing space in a self-contained private office within Edinburgh City of Literature, located in the John Knox House, in the prime of Edinburgh’s old town on the Royal Mile.
• Time – a consecutive two-month period per author, between March - June 2025, to use on a flexible basis, within working hours Monday-Friday (eg, one day a week for two months, one complete week each month etc).
• Money - £1,000 per author to be paid in two instalments (this fee will cover any expenses such as travel getting to John Knox House).
• Society of Authors Membership - For those that are not already Society of Authors members, the programme will come with 1 year membership, free of charge.
How do I apply?
We are currently accepting applications for the Writer’s Room. Applications are open until 5pm on Friday 21st February 2025. If you have any questions about the programme or your application, you can contact Keira on edinburgh@cityofliterature.com. .
To apply for the Writer’s Room, please fill in the questions in this short application form and complete the equal opportunity monitoring form. The information will be treated in the strictest confidence.
The successful candidates will be chosen by random selection by Edinburgh City of Literature Trust and will be announced in February 2025. We will let you know via email about the outcome of your application.
What are the criteria for applications?
Applicants must be over 18 years old and be an author with an EH postcode.
What about access?
Our office is on the top floor of John Knox House, one of Edinburgh’s oldest buildings and up a tight spiral staircase. The applicant must be able to easily navigate that space and those restrictions. We are investigating other possible spaces.
How is this project funded?
The Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust offer this programme in partnership with the Society of Authors in Scotland,and gratefully acknowledge and thank City of Edinburgh Council and Amazon Literary Partnership for financial support with this project.