Create an Account

If you’re between 13 and 19 years old, a free What’s Your Story? account allows you to submit your work for professional feedback and to have your work considered for inclusion in our online Magazine.

If you change your mind later, you can choose to delete your account at any time by contacting us.

  • Why do we need this?

    What do we need your name?

    We need to be able to identify you. If your work is chosen for publication, your name will be shown with it to credit you. If you do not wish your real name to be displayed on the website, choose a pen name in the box below.

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  • Any of your work published on the website will appear under this name. You can use your real name or, if you prefer to remain anonymous, use a Pen Name.
  • What is a Pen name?

    What is a Pen Name?

    Pen names have been used by writers and illustrators for a very long time. A pen name can hide your real identity or may be a useful writing alias. There are many, many reasons why people may use one - from their own safety, to playing a game with their audience, to managing themselves like a brand! Here are three examples of pen names.

    JK Rowling
    Robert Galbraith

    ...is a pen name of J.K. Rowling. When she wanted to continue her writing career beyond Harry Potter, she used this pen name to hide her famous identity so that her crime novels could be judged on their own merits.

    Iain Banks
    Iain M. Banks

    ...was a pen name of Iain Banks. Confused? Both of these were Iain Banks' actual names, but he would include his adopted middle initial whenever he wrote books that were from the Sci-Fi genre.

    Charlotte Brontë
    Currer Bell

    ...was Charlotte Brontë's pen name. Charlotte and her sisters all used male pen names to hide the fact they were women from a prejudiced Victorian audience. Speculation around the real identities of the Bells fuelled sales and critical debate of their books.

    You have the option of using a pen name for public display on What's Your Story? Think about if this is something you want to do, and your reasons for using a pen name. Choose your name carefully! Remember, if you have work published with us you can point to it in years to come as part of your creative portfolio. But maybe not so much if your work is published under the pen name AnnoyingTiger99...

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  • Why do we need this?

    What do we need your email address?

    We need to be able to send you information about your account on this website and to alert you when your feedback is ready for you to read!

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  • Why do we need your Region?

    Why do we need your Region?

    We need to confirm that you live in Scotland. We also want to monitor if we’re reaching people across the whole of Scotland.

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  • Why do we need this?

    Why do we need your home postcode?

    We need to confirm that you live in Scotland. We also want to monitor if we're reaching people across the whole of Scotland.

    As we're committed to your welfare, this information will also help us to connect you to support resources and professional people who can help you if we become concerned for your welfare. You can read more about this commitment on our support page.

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  • If you are home-schooled, working or doing anything else, please put that in the box!
  • Why do we need to know?

    Why do we need to know?

    We'd like to find out a bit more about the people taking part in What’s Your Story? as this helps us to understand and reach out to the young people who make up Scotland's teenage literary community.

    As we're committed to your welfare, this information will also help us to connect you to support resources and professional people who can help you if we become concerned for your welfare. You can read more about this commitment on our support page.

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  • Why do we need this?

    Why do we need this?

    We need to confirm and keep track of the ages of teenagers with accounts on the What's Your Story? website so that we know we are working with our target age range.

    What’s Your Story? is exclusively intended for young people aged 13-19. If you are not within this age bracket, you cannot participate in this programme. Resources and opportunities for adult writers are available on the Scottish Book Trust website.

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  • Why do we need this?

    Why do we need this?

    We'd like to find out a bit more about the people taking part in What’s Your Story? as this helps us to understand and reach out to the young people who make up Scotland’s teenage literary community.

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  • Maximum 300 words
  • What's a Writer's Biography?

    What's a Writer's Biography?

    Like a pen name, a writer or illustrator’s biography is an important part of presenting themselves and their work to an audience. Think of the author biographies you read inside book jackets, or on the social media profiles of illustrators you like. Do you think it matters to readers to know that John Grisham – who writes legal thrillers – was a lawyer for many years? Does it make a difference to people enjoying Emily Carroll’s gothic graphic novels and videogames that her biography is an illustration of her as a half-monstrous lady?

    Think about what is important for your audience to know about you, and what is not important for them to know. For instance, if you’re writing a story about snowboarding, and are a snowboarder yourself, this might help readers to believe in your passion for that part of your story and to believe that you’ll describe the snowboarding well!

    Don’t put really personal information in your biography, remember this is something that could be made public if you are published in the magazine. Always remember to think about this in terms of what you want strangers to know about you.

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  • What's a Username?

    What's a Username?

    Your username is the name you will use to log into the What's Your Story? website. This will not be displayed anywhere on the site.

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  • How do I choose a good password?

    How do I choose a good password?

    A good, strong password is one that cannot be guessed easily by anybody.

    Try to avoid using names or words from the dictionary, and use a mixture of letter, numbers and symbols.

    But be sure you can remember your password, or keep it somewhere safe that no one else can find it!

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  • What’s Your Story? would like to be able to send you emails about opportunities for young writers, illustrators and creators. This will include news about our annual conference, and other opportunities throughout the year to get involved with the What’s Your Story? programme. We will also update you on opportunities for young writers, illustrators and creators which become available via Scottish Book Trust’s site. You can opt out of receiving these emails at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email.
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