Scottish Book Trust teams up with BBC Scotland to launch writing project

Scottish Book Trust and BBC Radio Scotland today launch an exciting, new, national writing project to encourage ordinary Scots to write their extraordinary family tales.

Family Legends aims to capture the tall tales, murky memories and arcane anecdotes that are currently being shared over and again at family gatherings across Scotland.

The project encourages people to commit their family legend to paper – the story could be astonishing, funny, moving, nostalgic or inspiring. It could have happened one or one hundred years ago. It could be about a notable family member, a memorable holiday, a difficult time that brought you together, or a triumphant moment that you celebrated.

It could be about the time your brother rode his bike into a canal, your granny danced with Elvis or your great-great-great Uncle Hector assassinated a Russian Warlord. We want you to share your family legend with us, so that we can share it with others.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said “The word Legend comes from the Latin word ‘legenda’, which translates as “things to be read”. However, many family legends follow the oral storytelling tradition, where they are passed down by word of mouth through generations. Our aim is to encourage people to write these stories, in their own words, so that they may be enjoyed by others and, most importantly, will never be forgotten.

“We hope that these legends from people all across Scotland will create a real buzz about reading and writing, encouraging others to take up their pens and share their own Family Legends.”

The submissions will stay in an online collection on Scottish Book Trust’s website and a selection of the most interesting and inspiring stories will be broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland and published in a book in 2011.

A host of celebrities have already written their Family Legends –Now it’s your turn!

To find out how to get involved visit the Scottish Book Trust Website or the BBC Radio Scotland website

Stories should be between 100 and 1000 words and can be submitted online or by post to Family Legends, Scottish Book Trust, Sandeman House, Trunks Close, 55 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SR.

The closing date for entries is 31st March 2011.