On #ReadABookDay we celebrate Jackie Kay! Join the award-winning poet and former Scots Makar aboard Fingal next month, for an intimate evening of readings and stories celebrating her new Selected Poems. Fizz on arrival included! 🥂 🎟️ https://ow.ly/akCK50ZJUH3 #PTBOFestival2026

Festival Nights for #PTBOFestival2026 are now on sale! 🤩 Jackie Kay. Luke Wright. Joelle Taylor. Anthony Joseph. Henry Normal. Aurora Engine. Dean Atta. JL Williams. Nick Makoha. plus special guests! Poetry, performance, music + unforgettable nights in Edinburgh. 🎫 pushtheboatout.org/programme/

👀 First wave incoming… Our Festival Night events are about to be revealed! Poetry. Performance. Music. Brilliant voices. Unforgettable nights. 🎫 General sale open 10am, 3 September Set your alarms! #PTBOFestival2026

🌊 First wave incoming! Our first wave #PTBOFestival2026 festival nights goes on sale 3 Sep, but... Friends get first dibs, with priority booking from 1 Sep – plus 10% off all festival events + festival pass, plus 50% off year-round events! Catch the wave, join our crew ⚓ https://ow.ly/UjH850ZGG6M

Tonight's the night! Rock the Boat takes centre stage at the Edinburgh International Book Festival🤩 We'll be at the historic Book Festival Spiegeltent, located in the Courtyard at Edinburgh Futures Institute 📍 See you there? 🎫 https://ow.ly/5OcV50Zzkzz 📸 Mihaela Bodlovic

Rock the Boat: Poetry Open Mic | Edinburgh International Book Festival

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NEW podcast episode Shore Poets present Karen Solie and Tim Cresswell. Listen now and enjoy the poetry, music, and festival spirit all over again 🎧 #ABreakintheWaves #podcast #PTBOpoetry

Last chance to book for Rock the Boat at Edinburgh International Book Festival! We have a fantastic line-up of poetry readings and spoken word in store for you 🤩 Come enjoy an evening of poetry with us in the gorgeous Spiegeltent. 🎫 https://ow.ly/mBtB50Zx8cF 📸 Mihaela Bodlovic

NEW workshop Join festival director Emma Collins for a workshop on how to tackle imposter syndrome and a few practical tools that can support you to tackle it. Overcoming imposter syndrome 📅 24 Sep, 10am 📍 Edinburgh Quaker Meeting House

We're thrilled to announce Corin Sworn and Iain Morrison as recipients of the Push the Boat Out × Little Sparta Residency. Read our latest blog post to find out more about their practices 🗒️

I'm super excited for this event next week -- Juana is a gem, and her research into translating poets writing in indigenous Mexican languages is *fascinating*. Our discussion will be bilingual Spanish/English and promises to be generous and generative!

Push the Boat Out Festival@ptbopoetry.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Hear Fernanda Kookuilo'o read from the work in Tu'un Savi – the "language of rain" and gain a rare insight into the creative and cultural conversations that shape poetry across languages, Joined by poet, translator and editor Juana Adcock #PoetryBeyondBorders

We ❤️ @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social 's August 50 Word Fiction competition theme ⛵ Go on, give it a go! #writingcompetition

Scottish Book Trust@scottishbooktrust.bsky.social · last mo.

August 50 Word Fiction competition! Can you write a story about sailing in 50 words or less? We have 4 categories: Adult writers Gaelic writers Young writers aged 5–11 Young writers aged 12–18 📆Closing date: Tues 25 August www.scottishbooktrust.com/50-word-fict...

Meet Katie Hale, the author leading our next online workshop, Moving on from the first collection. In this reel, Katie’s answering your most frequently asked questions, from who the workshop is for to what you’ll take away. Press play to find out more! ▶️ Follow @katiescribbles.bsky.social

Join our Crew! 🙌 For £50 a year, become a Friend of Push the Boat Out and help us continue to develop our unique, vibrant and eclectic festival, alongside artist development, community outreach and year-round programmes. 🔗 pushtheboatout.org/friends-of-push-the-boat-out/ and join today!

Friends of Push the Boat Out - 2026 Push The Boat Out Festival

pushtheboatout.org

Last chance to apply for Scottish Book Trust's 2027 New Writers Awards ✍️ Apply now for the opportunity to receive a bursary, mentoring, a writing retreat, and tailored support to help develop your writing career in 2027. Deadline: Wednesday 29 July, 12 noon

Apply for the New Writers Awards

Applications for the New Writers Awards are now open!

scottishbooktrust.com

Writers, have you ever finished a major project and felt completely unsure what to write next? Join Katie Hale for an online workshop exploring how to identify your creative obsessions and find new directions for your work. Visit pushtheboatout.org/workshop/ to find out more!

NEW podcast episode! Top Doll - Karen McCarthy Wolf and Karensa Browse all A Break in the Waves episodes now on Apple, Spotify or Podbean 🎧 #ABreakintheWaves

Top Doll - Karen McCarthy Wolf and Karensa

A Break in the Waves · Episode

open.spotify.com

Four months until Push the Boat Out Festival returns! We're kicking off the countdown by looking back at some favourite festival moments. Tag the people you shared them with and help us build our following! 📸 Kat Gollock #PTBOpoetry #EdinburghInternationalPoetryFestival

We're delighted to be bringing Rock the Boat to Edinburgh International Book Festival on 18 August! Find out more, get involved and book your tickets today! #EIBF #EdBookFest #RockTheBoat #PTBOpoetry

Rock the Boat: Poetry Open Mic | Edinburgh International Book Festival

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edbookfest.co.uk

Hear Fernanda Kookuilo'o read from the work in Tu'un Savi – the "language of rain" and gain a rare insight into the creative and cultural conversations that shape poetry across languages, Joined by poet, translator and editor Juana Adcock #PoetryBeyondBorders

Poetry Beyond Borders: Fernanda Kookuilo'o and Juana Adcock - Buy tickets

Readings and discussions between poet and translator

citizenticket.com

We're delighted to be partnering with #ScottishBookTrust for this year’s Spoken Word award selection process for the New Writers Awards. ✍️ Apply by Wednesday 29 July at noon. Find out more at scottishbooktrust.com/writing-and-authors/new-writers-awards

Happy National Writing Day! Why not apply for our New Writers Awards 2027? 📆The deadline for all applications is Wednesday 29 July at noon. www.scottishbooktrust.com/writing-and-...

Apply for the New Writers Awards

Applications for the New Writers Awards are now open!

scottishbooktrust.com

Rock the Boat Push the Boat Out Festival's FREE monthly open mic invites poets of all styles and experience levels along - whether you're reading, performing, or listening - come make some waves🌊✍️ 📅 16 Jul 📅 17 Sep 📅 15 Oct 🕖 7–9pm Pre-register your interest - pushtheboatout.org/rock-the-boat/

FINAL CALL 🔈 Applications for Little Sparta Residencies close Monday 29 June. Residency dates: late Jul – early Sep Performance at Little Sparta: 27 Sep Festival performance: 12-15 Nov 🔗 pushtheboatout.org/residencies-at-little-sparta-call-for-applications/ #Residency #LittleSparta #Poetry

How do we set goals for ourselves and our work? How do we find our next direction? 🤔 Join novelist & poet Katie Hale in an online workshop to tease out your writing obsessions, push your work beyond its comfort zone, and help build new focus for the future. #PTBOpoetry #KatieHale #writingworkshop

Moving on from the first collection with Katie Hale - Buy tickets

A workshop with Katie Hale

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Successful applicants to our current call outs/commissions will not only receive funding, residency time or creative development support, they'll also take part in a dedicated 5-month coaching programme delivered in partnership with Coaching for Creatives. Find out more and apply today!

News / Blog - 2025 Push The Boat Out Festival

pushtheboatout.org

Want to rework myths, folklore and inherited stories in your own writing? Join acclaimed writer Meena Kandasamy for our online workshop Reclaiming Myths and Stories on 18 June. “One of India’s most exciting writers” @theguardian.com Tickets: citizenticket.com/events/push-the-boat-out/

Fieldwork As a Sex Object by Meena Kandasamy review – story of a deepfake sex tape

The author of When I Hit You returns with a pithy, savagely funny tale of online shaming and the Indian manosphere

theguardian.com

RESIDENCIES AT LITTLE SPARTA Deadline: Mon 29 June A @ptbopoetry.bsky.social residency to support the creation of new poetry-led work, responding to the work of Iain Hamilton Finlay, the gardens at Little Sparta and this year’s festival theme The Space Between. pushtheboatout.org/residencies-...

Residencies at Little Sparta – Call for applications - 2025 Push The Boat Out Festival

Push the Boat Out, Edinburgh’s International Poetry Festival is partnering with Little Sparta on a residency programme to support the creation of new poetry-led work, responding to the work of Iain Ha...

pushtheboatout.org

NEW Workshop Announced! Join us for an online workshop with poet and novelist Meena Kandasamy in which we explore how to rewrite myths and reclaim the narrative. To find out more and book your place today, visit citizenticket.com/events/push-the-boat-out/reclaiming-myths-and-stories/ #workshop

Up late? Spend some time with Len Pennie 🌙 Recorded live at #PushtheBoatOut2025, Len joins Emma Collins for a powerful conversation on poetry, humour, gender-based violence and the power of Scots language. Streaming now on Podbean + Apple 🎧 podbean.com/ew/pb-tzc6z-1ac3475 #ABreakintheWavesPodcast

Join us today for the first of a number of year-round CPD sessions for creatives, exploring the business of being a writer. Freelance Tax Club is an online session with Christy Ku, demystifying taxes and Making Tax Digital for freelance creatives. Today 4-5pm, Pay-what-you-can 🎟️ Book your place!

Freelance Tax Club for Creatives - Buy tickets

Join us for the first of a number of year-round CPD sessions for creatives, exploring the business of being a writer. First up: in Freelance Tax Club, Christy Ku will be demystifying taxes and Making ...

citizenticket.com