The Next Chapter Residencies

Applications: ClosedProgram: Residencies
Written By Maeve Marsden

As partners in The Next Chapter program, Varuna offers the four writers a week-long residency, along with a year’s membership of the Varuna Alumni network. 

These residencies are awarded to recipients of The Wheeler Centre’s Next Chapter program, where four outstanding writers are provided with a year’s mentorship and $15,000 to develop their work.

This program aims to elevate the Australian stories that aren’t being published and to nurture a new generation of writers, from all sorts of backgrounds.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are via The Wheeler Centre’s Next Chapter program, which is focused on the stories that aren’t being told, the voices that aren’t being heard, and the ideas that need patience, care and work to introduce to the world.

UPCOMING FELLOWSHIPS, COURSES AND EVENTS

For Writers
From Poem to Manuscript: an extended program with Felicity Plunkett
From Poem to Manuscript: an extended program with Felicity Plunkett

Applications close 11 February 2025

Expand and nurture your practice as a poet in this 4-month program. We’ll create an encouraging and inspiring community, and support the development of original work, from single poems to sequences, and explore how to build a collection for publication.

Varuna Trans and Gender Diverse Fellowship
Varuna Trans and Gender Diverse Fellowship

Applications close 17 February 2025

Trans and Gender Diverse writers are invited to apply for a week-long residency at Varuna, 4 - 11 August 2025, benefiting from one-on-one mentorship and and group reading sessions, supported by community.

Ann Moyal Non-Fiction Fellowship
Ann Moyal Non-Fiction Fellowship

Applications close 3 March 2025

The Ann Moyal Non-Fiction Fellowship encourages excellence in non-fiction writing and supports writers developing an original work drawn from the broad fields of the humanities and social sciences. Three writers will be selected for a three-week residency, 29 Sept - 20 Oct 2025.

Queensland Writers Centre Fellowships
Queensland Writers Centre Fellowships

Applications close 4 March

The Queensland Writers Centre offers two Varuna fellowships, both of which include a two-week residency at Varuna, travel subsidy and manuscript consultation, and are open to members of the Queensland Writers Centre.

International Lamplight Online Fellowship - Ireland
International Lamplight Online Fellowship - Ireland

Applications close 17 March 2025

Held in collaboration with the Irish Writers Centre, this online fellowship connects writers from Ireland and Australia, with mentorship, networking and peer feedback, plus Q&As with Pip Williams and Penguin Random House publisher Meredith Curnow.

Copyright Agency First Nations Fellowships
Copyright Agency First Nations Fellowships

Applications close 7 April 2025

First Nations writers are invited to apply for one of twelve week-long fellowships at Varuna in 2025, sharing the residency with other First Nations writers, and benefiting from one-on-one mentorship and the sharing of skills and knowledge.

Crafting Point of View: On-Demand Masterclass
Crafting Point of View: On-Demand Masterclass

Self-paced online course

Bring the Varuna magic to you with this nine-part online, self-paced course on point of view with Jane Messer. Explore this important element of writing craft, analysing sample readings from well-known authors and being prompted with a series of exercises.

Writing for Wellbeing: On-Demand Masterclass
Writing for Wellbeing: On-Demand Masterclass

Online self-paced course

Bring the Varuna magic to you with this eight-part online, self-paced course on writing for wellbeing. This revitalising program enables you to explore writing as a practice for your own wellbeing, including techniques for getting started (or re-started!).

Maeve Marsden
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