Freelance Writing Jobs: Edinburgh Book Festival, BBC, Skin Deep
The FWJ New Directions Bursary closes next week.
Hello! How are you doing? We’re a bit slim on the ground for decent pitch calls this week, but there are anchor gigs aplenty. Plus, one of my favourite writing awards is back for 2025.
If you didn’t catch these, here’s my latest editor interview with Lucy Purdy from Positive News, and this month’s round-up of writing awards, bursaries and residencies with upcoming deadlines.
Last thing before we jump to the jobs: a quick reminder that the FWJ New Directions Bursary closes for applications next week! Make sure you’ve submitted before the deadline, I can’t wait to read your entries.
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"A career-changing book... if you're thinking about going freelance, read this first," says GQ’s Oliver Franklin-Wallis.
My book The Pyjama Myth: the Freelance Writer's Survival Guide will make you a better, happier freelancer and you can order your copy from Bookshop.
Skin Deep, a publication that makes space for Black creatives and creatives of colour to work towards justice, is open for pitches once again. Here are the pitching guidelines.
Food publications Vittles has updated its pitching guidelines. I’ve added both of these to the list of guidelines for UK publications.
Hannah Strong has written a thread about pitching Little White Lies, with details at the end, but there’s no rush to pitch immediately. Take your time.
Index on Censorship’s Freedom of Expression Awards is open for nominations and there’s a journalism category.
BBC Oxford is hiring a senior politics reporter to work two days a week as part of a job share arrangement.
This one sounds really interesting. Nuclear Information Service is looking for a part-time research manager, to assist with investigating and reporting on the UK nuclear weapons programme, nuclear disarmament and related issues.
Paintbrushes down, the Royal College of Art needs a part-time content editor.
The Business Disability Forum is looking for a digital content editor on a part-time basis.
The Geological Society of London is taking on an assistant editor for Geoscientist, working three days a week.
ISSOS International is hiring a creative writing teacher for its summer school in St Andrews.
Longborough Festival Opera is looking for a part-time social media and digital content manager.
Harper James needs a freelance legal content writer.
Edinburgh Book Festival needs a temporary brochure coordinator. Loads of editing and proofreading in this role.
The Writer’s Block is looking for emerging environmental poetry and prose writers based in Cornwall and Devon.
Hidden Door Arts Festival has put out a poetry and spoken word open call.
Theatr Cymru and Theatr Clwyd is looking for “bold, immediate and funny plays”.
Writers over the 50 working on your debut novels, make sure you enter the Jenny Brown Associates Over 50 Award.
The Wasafari New Writing Prize is open for submissions, and there are concessions available.
Decadent Serpent is looking for poems on the theme of tragic love. It’s free to enter and there’s a £50 prize for the winner.
Here’s a great one for non-fiction writers. If you’ve got a publishing contract in the bag, applications are open for the Whiting Creative Nonfiction Grant.
Fancy three months at the Washington Post? The Stern-Bryan Fellowship for early career journalists is open for applications.
I really love when this one comes around. The Harper-Wood Creative Writing and Travel Award is open for applications from early career writers looking to spend up to a year abroad for research purposes. What a dream!
I mentioned this one last week, but the application window for the Gladstone’s Library writer-in-residence programme is now open.
If you prefer Wales to Scotland (why not both!), Cove Park’s awarded residencies are now open for submissions.
The National Memorial Arboretum is looking for a poet-in-residence. What a lovely role.
This one’s for underrepresented writers. Literary agency Green & Heaton’s brilliant Greene Door Project is open for applications.
Papatango does such good stuff for emerging playwrights. Their Playwrights’ Studio offers brilliant career resources and it’s free to sign up.
The good people at Story Arc are offering a scholarship for their writing masterclass.
Last one of the week before I treat myself to the best noodles in town. Don’t miss out, you’ve only got a few days to apply for the FWJ New Directions Bursary.
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And finally: next on the reading list | lunch plans | weekend plans | all the books I’ve loved this year.
I'm Sian Meades-Williams. I'm a freelance writer, author and poet and I was the winner of the 2022 Yeovil Literary Prize. My book The Pyjama Myth: the Freelance Writer's Survival Guide will make you a better, happier freelancer and it’s out now.
Best of luck with your pitches this week!