Besides those mentioned elsewhere – the Scottish Arts Council Literature Department, the Publishing Scotland, Gaelic Books Council - Comhairle nan Leabhraichean, and the Scots Language Centre – other key literary organisations include the Scottish Book Trust (SBT), which administers the SAC’s Live Literature Scotland programme, as well as promoting the sector more generally. The Association for Scottish Literary Studies, based at the University of Glasgow, was founded in 1970 'to promote the study, teaching and writing of Scottish literature, and to further the study of the languages of Scotland'. Among other activities, it publishes the annual New Writing Scotland anthology, featuring original poetry, short fiction and drama.

As well as being an important publisher of general and academic titles, the Saltire Society, which exists to promote and preserve all aspects of Scotland's culture and heritage, also administers Scotland's main literary awards, for Scottish Book of the Year and Scottish First Book of the Year, alongside further prizes for educational publishing and historical research.

The Scottish Poetry Library, established in 1984, holds an outstanding collection of books, journals, cassettes and videos, with the emphasis on contemporary poetry written in Scotland. Its well-maintained website holds information on current periodicals, awards and competitions, live poetry events and poets’ biographies.

Those wishing to study or teach creative writing at university level in Scotland have traditionally gravitated to the University of Glasgow, whose MPhil degree continues to reign as Scotland’s most successful course in this field. However, the BA programmes in Journalism and Creative Writing offered by the University of Strathclyde, the MLitt and PhD programmes offered by the University of St Andrews and the University of Edinburgh's MSc programme have also rising up the rankings in recent years. Creative Writing is also offered as part of the University of Aberdeen's English programmes.

Shorter-term study and teaching opportunities are widely available at many university summer schools, and residential courses are run by the Arvon Foundation’s Scottish centre at Moniack Mhor, near Inverness.

Professional writers seeking a Scottish retreat, meanwhile, can choose between the havens of Hawthornden Castle, just outside Edinburgh, and Cove Park, over on the West Coast.

Make direct contact with organisations and individuals working in the Scottish literature sector through our extensive database of KEY CONTACTS.