Sloan Prize for prose or verse composition in Lowland Scots

Open to University of Edinburgh graduates of less than three years' standing and students. Deadline is Tuesday 31 March 2020, 5pm.

The Sloan Prize, estimated value £1,500, is awarded annually for a prose or verse composition in Lowland Scots vernacular to a matriculated student of the University of Edinburgh, or to a graduate of the University of Edinburgh of less than three years’ standing.

Competitors must include a statement about the particular dialect in which their composition is written; accuracy in the use of the chosen dialect will be a factor in determining the award (along with the literary and imaginative interest of the composition).

Entries may be in either poetry or prose (fiction). Poetry submissions must be no more than 80 lines; prose submissions must be no longer than 3,000 words. The title is not included in the line/word count.

Please check the full guidelines on the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures' website.

I am honoured to have won the Sloan Prize for 2019. I was surprised, and indeed overwhelmed, when I received the news, and it truly means a lot to me. I think it is amazing that the award celebrates literature in various lowland dialects, and gives significant value to the languages that we learn growing up, and speak in our everyday lives.