The Writer's Space Fellowships 2022
The Varuna the National Writers’ House with the writer’s space logo
In 2022, 12 fellowships will be offered to writers with disability or who are D/deaf, from around Australia. Selected recipients can nominate their preference for a one-week in-person residency fellowship or a four-week online fellowship and where possible we will accommodate your request.
RESIDENCY FELLOWSHIPS
Residency fellowships are offered from 5 September to 12 September 2022 and will include:
A one-week residency at Varuna including all evening meals.
Uninterrupted time to write in your own private studio, and the companionship of your fellow writers.
Two one-hour sessions (one-on-one) with Varuna writing consultant Dr Carol Major.
A small group online Q&A session with publisher Julia Carlomagno from Monash University Publishing.
A small group online information and Q&A session with consultant Fiona Cook on how you may be able to get support for your writing through the NDIS
Access to a Varuna ‘on-demand course’ to go deeper with your writing process
You can view the residency fellowships program here.
ONLINE FELLOWSHIPS
The online fellowships will run over the period of four weeks. Starting on 5 September, participants are encouraged to work at their own pace for the month.
Online residencies will include:
Facilitated professional networking opportunities, including the opportunity to share work, talk about process, and receive feedback from your peers.
Two one-hour online sessions (one-on-one) with Varuna writing consultant Dr Carol Major.
A small group online Q&A session with publisher Julia Carlomagno from Monash University Publishing.
A small group online information and Q&A session with consultant Fiona Cook on how you may be able to get support for your writing through the NDIS
Access to daily ‘Shut up and Write’ sessions
Access to online platform Wet Ink for writing prompts and sharing work
Access to a Varuna ‘on-demand course’ to go deeper with your writing process
Online residency participants need to allow at least one or two hours a week at specific times for programmed sessions, with the expectation that participants will also allow between four and twelve hours per week for dedicated writing time during the four-week residency.
You can view the online fellowships program here.
KEY DATES
Due to the Easter weekend, the deadline for applications close midday 19 April 2022. If you have any queries, you can call us on the morning of Tuesday 19 April on 02 4782 5674 or you can email varuna@varuna.com.au.
WHAT YOU NEED TO SEND US
You will need to send us between 4,000 and 10,000 words from the beginning of your manuscript. For poetry, you will need to send us a selection of 10 poems.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are looking for emerging or established writers who are developing new work. This could include literary fiction, genre fiction, non-fiction, illustration and graphic novels, young adult fiction, junior fiction, poetry, or writing for screen, theatre or radio.
Assessors will be looking at the artistic merit of the work sample that you submit, your commitment to the writing craft, and how this Fellowship will benefit your professional development.
FEES
Application fees are used to pay professional assessors to read your work.
Application fees are $45 per application, unless you are a financially current alumni member using your annual fee waiver. If you have a Healthcare card, the application fee is $30. Please email us if you are facing financial hardship and require full application fee subsidy.
There are no program costs, although residency fellowship recipients will need to meet their own travel expenses to and from Varuna. Healthcare card owners or those facing financial hardship can apply to the Varuna Travel Assistance Fund for a travel subsidy of up to $300.
SUPPORT FROM ACCESSIBLE ARTS
Accessible Arts is the peak arts and disability organisation in New South Wales. They are providing advice and support to Varuna in delivering the program, for which we are grateful.
Assessors of the program will be writers with disability.
QUESTIONS?
You will find answers to some common questions in our FAQ. We also have information about accessibility here.
If you have any other questions, or you wish to discuss your application with our staff feel free to get in touch by email varuna@varuna.com.au or by phone 02 4782 5674.
Please let us know if you would like to receive any information in an alternative format.
Julia Carlomagno
JULIA CARLOMAGNO
Julia Carlomagno recently commenced in the role of Publisher at Monash University Publishing.
Previous to this position, Julia has had a career in trade publishing, including roles at publishing houses Black Inc., Scribe and Penguin, and has won both of Australia’s national editing awards (the Rosie Award for Editorial Excellence and the Barbara Ramsden Award). She has worked with award-winning researchers and writers such as Joëlle Gergis, John Keane, Jeff Sparrow, Alice Pung, Anna Krien and Margaret Simons, and was the deputy editor of the journal Australian Foreign Affairs.
Fiona Cook
FIONA COOK
Fiona Cook has worked in the arts and community sectors in Victoria, NSW and Queensland for over 25 years. She has a wealth of experience as a producer, artist, manager, curator, teacher, mentor, programmer and consultant in the arts and has been involved in the establishment of Cecil St Studio, Rawcus Theatre Company, Weave Movement Theatre and The Delta Project. She has held roles as Arts Program Manager, Strategic Projects Manager and Director of Learning Development with Arts Access Victoria, Manager of Community Inclusion and Development with Scope Victoria as well as managing independent art galleries in Brisbane and Sydney.
Carol Major
Carol Major
Dr Carol Major has been a professional writer for over thirty years and works with writers across all narrative forms. Through her in-depth understanding of narrative voice and creative process, Carol draws out the writer’s vision, strengthening their authentic voice and matching it with the crafting tools needed to realise their project. As award-winning writer Dr Leah Kaminsky comments: “Carol is the oracle. She has an intuitive understanding of what a writer is doing and needs. She sees the bigger picture, sheds light on characters hiding in the dark and rekindles the imagination.”
