The Burry Man Writers Center

resources for a worldwide community of writers

freelance job links, resources for playwrights, screenwriters, fiction and nonfiction writers working professionals and dedicated beginners
with particular support for writing about Scotland

Welcome to The Burry Man

In the artistic world, the most solitary of disciplines may be that of the writer. There are few premieres or opening nights, gallery exhibits or unveilings. There is just the work, and the elusive promise of success. And occasionally there is community. Since 1997, The Burry Man Writers Center has been a primary source of research information and freelance job leads for working professional and talented beginning writers. The Burry Man is what might be called "intellectual property" — a space where writers visit from 158 countries and every state in the U.S. The Resource Pages are a guide to more than 4,000 first generation Internet sites from the US, Scotland, England, Ireland, Australia and Canada, as well as Asia, Europe, Africa and around the world, to help you in your quest.

What you'll find here is an ever-increasing database of information designed to help you find ways to improve your work and get it seen.

The things we don't offer at The Burry Man are critique, comments, edits, rewrites, handholding or holding back. The life of writing is a tough choice to make, but it is a choice. Yes, I know everybody says "I must write", but I must diet and exercise, and you don't see me doing it, now do you? Believe me, if you asked me to read your work you probably wouldn't like the response, because I can be brutally honest in the face of anything less than the very best a writer can offer. I'm the first person to give applause for an effort well attempted, but nothing can stop me from suggesting a new career to a writer who doesn't do the work, which in my definition includes putting yourself and your work out into the world, as many times as it takes to learn something. Every rejection is a lesson, every "no" a way to improve your attitude towards your writing, even if the lesson learned is to ignore the rejections and the advice and believe in your own writing.

Writing is hard, and unlike most other career choices it includes a constant exposure to rejection and despondency. And the only way you're going to succeed is to make yourself succeed. That long road is very difficult, uphill both ways, you might say. I fight my own laziness, frustrations, insecurities and fear every single day. And so should you. It's the price we pay.

Our most heartfelt best wishes -- Joseph & Jennifer

The Fine Print:

The Burry Man Writers Center is not responsible for the content of pages not on this site, which are reached by clicking our links. You have a problem, take it up with them. Don't go swimming until an hour after you eat. Close cover before striking. Don't put your shoes on the table, you'll wet the bed. It wouldn't kill you to write a letter every now and then, just so we know you're okay, you know how your mother worries. - Uncle and Auntie Burry

Submissions:

The Burry Man Writers Center is not a market for fiction, poetry, scripts, memoirs, personal statements, photos, how-to's or anything else: it is a resource for writers. We don't fund work, nor can we tell you where to go for funding beyond what is offered on our pages. In order to avoid possible claims of copyright infringement, unsolicited creative material will not be read. Mail sent to The Burry Man with attachments will not be opened or reply sent. In other words, Dear Friends, please don't send us your stuff, or ask us to read it, this site takes an immense amount of time as it is. Feel free to search the resources on this site to find your own markets; that's what "Do The Work" means.

Let's Talk ...

The Real Burry Man

The Burry Man has a special place in Scottish tradition and folklore. Every August, for centuries, the Burry Man has walked the streets of South Queensferry, Scotland, a village near Edinburgh. The residents believe he will bring luck to the town if they give him whisky and money. We chose to name our center after him to honor this ancient tradition, and the generations of townsfolk who have kept it alive. Burry Man Day is the second Friday in August. Our thanks to Andrew Taylor, John Nicol, Alan Reid, James "Kitter" Magan, John "Jacko" Hart, Sam Corson, Arne Fredricksen, Judith McPhillips (the Wee Burry Man, 1948) and all the other stout men, robust lads and charming lassies who have taken on the mantle of the Burry Man.