Matthew Fitt - About Matthew - WRITER & POET

 Matthew at Hugh MacDiarmid memorial near Langholm, Scottish Borders
Matthew Fitt is an award-winning Scottish writer and poet. One of the first Scottish poets to hold the prestigious Brownsbank Writing Fellowship at the former home of Hugh MacDiarmid, Matthew’s poetry and prose continue to break new ground and encourage readers to re-imagine Scotland in fresh and challenging ways.


As the first science fiction book written entirely in Scots, Matthew Fitt’s debut novel But n Ben A-Go-Go was described by the late Edwin Morgan as a ‘sprightly and imaginative tale where a standard Lallans is stretched and skelped to meet the demands of cyberjannies and virtual hoorhooses.’ But n Ben A-Go-Go placed in The List’s 100 Best Scottish Books and was the subject of a critical guide in the Scotnotes series.

Matthew Fitt is a widely published and respected Scots poet. His best known poem is Kate o Shanter’s Tale, a lively interpretation of Robert Burns’ Tam o Shanter. First published in Chapman 65, Kate o Shanter’s Tale has been read at Burns’ Suppers all over the world and is reaching new audiences as a popular performance piece on YouTube.

A freelance writer with over fifteen years experience, Matthew has performed his work at literary events and festivals in Scotland, Australia and the USA. His writing has featured regularly on radio and television while his poetry and prose have been translated into several languages. He has made poetry films for Hampden National Stadium and London’s Royal Festival Hall. Matthew was also Writer-in-Residence for Greater Pollok in Glasgow and a tutor at Moniack Mhor Writers’ Centre. He leads writers’ groups and creative writing courses for all ages.