Edinburgh writers have the chance to win £200 by sharing the city’s fascinating history in the William Anderson Memorial Prize 2025.
The competition invites the city’s residents to submit original non-fiction essays of up to 2,000 words about Edinburgh’s history and heritage. Entries must connect to one or more themes from the recent Edinburgh 900 project, celebrating the city’s remarkable 900-year story.
Open to anyone aged 18 or over who lives within City of Edinburgh Council boundaries, the competition welcomes both experienced writers and newcomers passionate about local history. Topics could range from medieval Edinburgh and Victorian innovations to wartime stories and modern developments.
Entries will be judged by Edinburgh Libraries alongside experts from The Old Edinburgh Club, Scotland’s premier historical society dedicated to the city’s heritage. Judges will look for fresh insights, engaging writing, solid research, and attention to detail.
Alison Mcdonald, Vice President of the Old Edinburgh club says “The Old Edinburgh Club are delighted to be involved to help judge this award and continues our collaboration with Edinburgh Central Library on various projects”
The winner receives £200, funded by the Anderson family in memory of William Anderson. There will also be some runner up prizes. Winning entries may also be published online by Edinburgh Libraries or The Old Edinburgh Club, giving successful writers the chance to share their discoveries with fellow history enthusiasts.
Essays should be submitted by email to [email protected] with the subject line “William Anderson Memorial Competition.” Entries are accepted from 1st October 2025, with a deadline of 4pm on 31st December 2025.
Writers must complete a cover sheet with contact details but should not include any identifying information in their essay text.
For theme ideas and inspiration, visit www.edinburgh.org/900/themes/ to explore the Edinburgh 900 project.
The winner will be announced on 27 March 2026.
For more information, contact Edinburgh Libraries at [email protected]
