Jobs

Creative Writing Lead Reader: Open Book

Apply by 11 February for this part-time, fixed-term role based in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.

Open Book is looking for a Creative Writing Lead Reader to deliver 10 shared reading + creative writing sessions in Inverurie across a 12 month period, between April 2026 – March 2027. The Lead Reader will be joining a community of approximately 75 Open Book Lead Readers, who lead groups all over Scotland and online.

Since March 2013 Open Book (openbookreading.com) has run shared reading and creative writing sessions for adults. In the year running from April 2025 – March 2026 they will have delivered over 1,000 sessions in around 75 locations – from Shetland to Stranraer, and in places like Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee and in the Central Belt. Open Book work in a number of sectors, including libraries, health care settings, with the elderly, refugees and migrants, community groups, and in prisons, libraries and other public settings.

The successful applicant will:

– be a published author with a publication record commensurate with authors on Scottish Book Trust’s Author Database;
– have previous experience of workshop delivery;
– be asked to join the PVG Scheme and provide two references; and
– be available to attend an online, paid training session in Feb/March and to deliver 10 monthly workshops from April 2026 onwards.

The successful candidate will be contracted to deliver 10 x 2hr shared reading + creative writing workshops in the Open Book model in Inverurie across a 12 month period. The fee in respect of each workshop (including preparation, delivery and post session feedback) is £220. Up to 8 training hours – including compulsory training in the Open Book delivery model – will be funded across the year at £30 per hour. No travel costs will be provided.

Lead Readers are also asked to support their groups to attend a literary event during the course of the project year. This can be attendance at an online or an in-person festival event local to their group. An additional fee of up to £120 will be available to Lead Readers for helping to organise and attending this visit.

Preference will be given to applicants living and/or working in or near Inverurie.

For more information and to apply, see the Open Book website.