Five promising young writers from across Scotland are preparing to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime development opportunity, having been chosen to attend the British Council Nature Writing Seminar with Robert Macfarlane in Munich this June.
The visit brings together two key spheres of activity in Scotland and Germany throughout 2018: Scotland’s Year of Young People and the UK/Germany 2018 Season.
Both are key areas of work for the British Council in Scotland and Germany respectively and together, with the forthcoming Glasgow/Berlin European Championships in August, they represent a further deepening of the close cultural bonds between the two countries.
The five young Scottish writers and their current base are:
- Maria Sledmere - Glasgow
- Kate Chambers - Edinburgh
- Liga Gutane – Glasgow/Latvia
- Patrick Romero McCafferty - Edinburgh
- Lois Wappler – Macduff
They were among 25 young writers from across Scotland who applied to take part in the opportunity, which was promoted through an open call across British Council Scotland channels.
In Munich they will be introduced to the nature writing literary movement through workshops, panel discussions and readings. They will also be inspired by the impressive natural environment of Bavaria during a day trip to Stiftung Nantesbuch.
Chaired by Robert Macfarlane, a leading proponent of the genre, the British Council Nature Writing Seminar aims to both celebrate and critically examine some of the aspects, forms and outcomes of this vital literary movement.
Guest writers include several eminent figures Nancy Campbell, Horatio Clare, Helen MacDonald, Sarah Hall and Helen Mort. The authors will read from recent works, discuss characteristics of nature writing and explore recent trends of the genre in the UK.
The Seminar takes place from 7-9 June and some of the sessions will be streamed with the hashtag #BritLitMunich.