Glasgow-based freelance journalist Maggie Ritchie has won her first award for fiction writing.

Maggie, who graduated with distinction last November from the University’s Creative Writing course, has won The Curtis Brown Glasgow Prize for Fiction 2012.

This award, with a prize of £1,500, is presented annually to the best fiction writer from across the university’s entire Creative Writing Programme. 

“I am very happy to win this award after a hugely enjoyable experience on the Creative Writing course at the university,” said Maggie, who’s hoping her first novel provisionally titled “Dreams Carved in Stone” will find a publisher. The book is a fictional biography about the sculptor Camille Claudel.

“Juggling work, family commitments including looking after our son who’s five now, and trying to find time to write my book while completing the course has proved hectic but rewarding and stimulating.

“Winning this award has come as a complete surprise, but I’m pleased and proud at the same time.”

Maggie is commissioned regularly for news stories and features by the Daily Record, Scottish Daily Mail, The Herald, The Times and The Mail on Sunday.

“Writing the book was a joy as I’ve had the idea for it for a long time,” said Maggie. “I’ve now started a second novel and I’m hoping to complete it by the summer.”

Curtis Brown is one of Europe’s oldest and largest independent literary and talent agencies representing many of the world’s most popular and successful authors, screenwriters, directors, actors, playwrights and celebrities. 

The company has a strong connection with the Edwin Morgan Centre for Creative Writing.

Karolina Sutton of Curtis Brown said: “We were impressed by the quality of the prose and the research required to recreate 19th century Paris.”

First published: 2 February 2012

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