Scotland’s Next Generation Young Makars

Scotland’s Next Generation Young Makars is a new talent development scheme for poetry writers aged 16 to 25 years launched by us at the Scottish Poetry Library.

We put out a call for young poets to submit their work online. We received many submissions, and selected five outstanding candidates who have now been matched with experienced poets.

Please join us in welcoming; Lydia McMillan, Rhys Pearce, Mattea Gernentz, Caitlin Sherret & Elissa Hunter-Dorans.

Lydia will be mentored by Michael Pedersen, Caitlin by Janette Ayachi, Alissa by Niall O’Gallagher, Mattea with Aoife Lyall & Rhys with Tom Murray. These talented poets have many publications, awards and achievements to their names, and are very firmly part of the Scottish poetry firmament.

Scotland’s Next Generation Young Makars.

We had a wee introductory blether with the Young Makars as they prepared to set out on their menteeships.

Caitlin Sherret

I’m a 24-year-old Highlander, and I work in English. I’m originally from Nairn but I currently live in Stirling. 

[on her involvement in poetry to date]: I have mainly been writing myself. I have been part of a reflective writing group called the Novel Pool in Bridge of Allan for eight months. My only public event so far was a poetry sharing night at One Weekend in Stirling in November 2021.

Elissa Hunter-Dorans [on an inspiring writer]: I admire Aonghas MacNeacail, as he combines traditional and contemporary aspects of Gaelic and English poetry styles to create unique and emotive pieces. He is so inspiring to me as a new Gaelic poet in the modern world.

Rhys Pearce

I am an 18-year-old poet and spoken word artist from the Scottish Borders. I work across many media, and am especially interested in exploring the boundaries and connections between them.

[on interests beyond poetry]: Outwith the literary sphere, I am interested in a range of other (related) humanities, such as history, philosophy, linguistics, and politics. I have a particular interest in the ancient world and its mythology. My interest in politics directly relates to the literary through my work at Scottish Youth Parliament, where I ardently campaigned for greater support for youth literary programs, ultimately having a very intriguing conversation with Marc Lambert, the CEO of the Scottish Book Trust, about adapting youth literary arts to the post-covid era rather than trying to return to their pre-covid state

Mattea Gernentz

I’m a 23 year old poet and art curator from Tennessee now living in Edinburgh. My writing meditates on themes of beauty, memory, gender, and intertextuality.

[on the future]: In the next five years, I would like to feel more plugged into the Edinburgh literary scene (or wherever my home might be) and to have published a debut poetry collection.

Lydia McMillan

I am a twenty-year-old poet from Dumfries, currently living and studying in Edinburgh. My work is primarily in English, and I enjoy using poetry to explore themes relating to the natural world, temporality, and love in its different forms. 

[on interests beyond poetry]: I love reading, mainly literary fiction and poetry as well as philosophical texts, as I study philosophy at university; I am also very interested in film, music and languages, and outdoor activities such as hiking, wild swimming and amateur astronomy.

Each of the mentees will have a series of sessions with their experienced mentors, and will receive a bursary to assist their development.