Pushing Out the Boat
- probably the best regional literary magazine in Scotland,
- high quality writing, with a unique blend of the local and the global.
- a thrilling place to be published alongside writers and artists from around the world
Shane Strachan
a visual feast across beautiful artworks and well-crafted images of language which has much to be savoured throughout.
Duncan McLean
. . . sharp-eyed, open minded . . . helping to launch the careers of many new writers and to publish high quality work by established writers
Alan Spence
Well-produced, nicely balanced… one of the most attractive magazines of its kind in Scotland, providing an important forum for new poetry and prose
Esther Woolfson
It has expanded its horizons while maintaining the tone and savour of place which has always made it unique.
J Graeme Roberts
…a high quality magazine like Pushing Out the Boat encourages and enables North-East writers and artists to bring their best work to the attention of a wide and discerning audience…
Tom Hammick
… a fantastic magazine … essential for highlighting and enriching local culture. I’m a huge fan of literary publications and the work within POTB is of such high standard.
Isobel Murray
Its standards remain exceptionally high, and format makes it a delight to handle
Wayne Price
… more than just another literary magazine … its 14 issues comprise an extraordinary and beautifully produced treasure house of new writing and art.
Christine de Luca
. . . it continues to delight in its eclectic range of literary and visual contributions and in the care with which it is produced
Magi Gibson
. . . a fantastic and quality showpiece for art and new literature from the North East of Scotland
Mindy Grewar
I find that if you tap the covers, Pushing Out the Boat becomes a Marauders Map and Phrasebook, indispensable for sojourns in this space of sea and peak, couth and cheek…
John Aberdein
Seafaring and mindfaring are vital to our city: more power to the elbows of those who push out this handsome vessel.
Our next issue
Submissions to Issue 18 closed on 30 September 2024. The work of selecting contributions, designing and editing the magazine is in progress with the aim of publication in Spring 2025.
Our current issue
Pushing Out the Boat Issue 17 was launched in May 2023 and is jam-packed with a hundred pages of wonderful stories, poems and art by writers and artists not only from our ‘home turf’ but from across Scotland and the UK and as far afield as Germany, Netherlands and the USA.
In his generous foreword to the magazine, the National Library of Scotland’s Scots Scriever, Shane Strachan, describes this edition of Pushing Out the Boat as ‘one of the strongest issues yet … a visual feast across beautiful artworks and well-crafted images of language which has much to be savoured throughout,’ and who are we to disagree?
Click on the cover image to take a peek into the magazine – read Shane’s foreword, view the Contents page, sample some extracts and browse through a photo gallery of the art that appears within. Perhaps you will be inspired to submit to Issue 18.
Copies of Issue 17 can be ordered here for postal delivery or purchased from one of our retail outlets.
Our Magazines
The first issue of Pushing Out the Boat was published in the year 2000, since when there have been a sequence high quality magazines leading up to our latest publication. You can read about how we work, who we are and how the magazines are produced on the About POTB page and the full back catalogue of magazines can be viewed on Our Magazines page.
Our current edition is POTB Issue 17. Within its pages you will find humour, pathos and drama in Doric, Scots and English, along with stimulating works of art. There’s a rich variety of theme and style from the contributing authors, poets and artists – with a mixture of new voices along with more familiar names.
Issue 17 can be purchased from our retail outlets or ordered from our online store.
After looking at Issue 17, why not browse through other editions of the magazine. Online versions of Issues 9 – 16 can be read in full and sample extracts from Issues 6 – 8 offer a flavour of earlier editions. Then visit our online shop where all editions of the magazine are available for purchase.
Donations
POTB is an entirely voluntary and not-for-profit enterprise. The costs of producing this beautiful magazine are met by magazine sales, fund-raising events and donations. Any contributions, however small, are hugely appreciated and will help keep us afloat. Use the button below to donate via PayPal.
Step on board
The POTB Blog
- Writing Creatively about the Sea (Blair Center, 30 Aug 2024)
- Meet the Panellists (Naomi Greenwood, 23 Aug 2024)
- The Power of the Sea, the Power of Words (Roger White, 10 Aug 2024)
- Introducing the new editor, Peter Burnett (Peter Burnett, 17 May 2024)
- Pushing Out the Boat all the way to Stirling (Naomi Greenwood, 13 Apr 2024)
- From Fiddle to Boat – a piece of North East history (Naomi Greenwood, 2 Mar 2024)
- Sheila Templeton: a personal appreciation (Judith Taylor, 29 Jan 2024)
News
- Submissions to Issue 18 are now closed
- Call for Submissions to Issue 18
- POTB Events in Aberdeen Festival of the Sea
- Issue 16 now available to read in full online
- Season’s Greetings from POTB – our end of year newsletter
- Issue 17 launched
- POTB features on shmu FM radio arts programme
- Check out our Useful Links page for literary organisations, publications, events and POTB contributors.
Facebook Posts
2 weeks ago
💥LAST CHANCE TO SUBMIT!💥There’s just over a week left until submissions to Pushing Out the Boat Issue 18 close!Here’s your reminder that there is still time to send in last minute prose, poetry and artwork in time for publication in Spring 2025.📚Click below to submit. Get scribbling!www.pushingouttheboat.co.uk/submissions/
3 weeks ago
4 weeks ago
🌊Head to our blog to read all about our "Power of the Sea" workshop, part of the recent Festival of the Sea.Hosted by Shane Strachan, the event was well attended and enjoyed, recalled in writing by Pushing Out the Boat panellist, Blair Center.www.pushingouttheboat.co.uk/blog/?doing_wp_cron=1725801973.1563420295715332031250#Writing%20Creat…
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4 weeks ago
Pushing Out the Boat are pleased to see several of our art contributors featuring in this year’s fabulous North East Open Studios lineup.Visit the artist spaces of Bryan Angus, Anke Addy and more from 7-15th September. 🖌💻Visit the NEOS website at www.northeastopenstudios.co.uk/visit/ for more!
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1 month ago
💥ONE MONTH TO GO! 💥📝You have until 30th September to submit your art, poetry and prose to Issue 18 of Pushing Out the Boat. 💻Click here to submit www.pushingouttheboat.co.uk/submissions/ Read our latest blog post to meet some of the panellists who will be judging your submissions this year! www.pushingouttheboat.co.uk/blog/?doing_wp_cron=1725277581.0645759105682373046875#Meet%20the%20Pa…#pushingouttheboat
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1 month ago
Perhaps you’ve already submitted some work, or you’re in the process of refining it before sending it our way – or maybe this blog post will be the motivation you need to get started!Hit the link below to read our latest blog item introducing some of this year’s panellists! www.pushingouttheboat.co.uk/blog/?doing_wp_cron=1724782800.4788670539855957031250#Meet%20the%20Pa…
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1 month ago
Perhaps you’ve already submitted some work, or you’re in the process of refining it before sending it our way – or maybe this blog post will be the motivation you need to get started!Hit the link below to read our latest blog item introducing some of this year’s panellists! www.pushingouttheboat.co.uk/blog/?doing_wp_cron=1724782800.4788670539855957031250#Meet%20the%20Pa…
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2 months ago
🌊"A Festival of the Sea and a magazine called Pushing Out the Boat. A match made in heaven, no?" asks Roger White, recounting the events of 20 July’s "Power of the Sea" reading event.📚 Read all about it in our latest blog post – www.pushingouttheboat.co.uk/blog/?doing_wp_cron=1723465917.8538908958435058593750#The%20Power%20o…
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2 months ago
Delighted to be featured by Post, chatting about the history and mission of the magazine! Take a look on their website: postabdn.com/exploring-the-literary-magic-of-pushing-out-the-boat/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR04E…
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2 months ago
Exploring the Literary Magic of Pushing Out the Boat
We chat with Naomi Greenwood about the evolution and impact of Pushing Out the Boat magazine.