Scribe Varuna Residency FAQ

 How much is the application fee for the program?

Application fees are $70 per application, unless you are a financially current alumni member using your annual fee waiver. This fee helps to cover the administrative costs of this program and to pay our assessors for their time reading your work.

If I am successful, are there any fees for participating in the program?

If you are successful, you will be asked to make a contribution of $385 towards your residency and you will need to meet your own travel expenses to and from Varuna.

What about travel costs?

You will need to meet your travel costs to get to and from Varuna. If you have a Healthcare card, you may apply to the Varuna Travel Assistance Fund for a subsidy of up to $300. Also, State and Territory funding bodies are often willing to provide a contribution for travel expenses to support genuine professional development opportunities.

Am I required to take my fellowship at a specific time of year?

Yes. The fellowship week will be held from Monday 5 August to Monday 12 August 2024 and includes seven nights’ accommodation.

When will I be notified regarding the outcome?

You will be notified of the outcome of your submission by email, and the fellowship recipients will be announced on our website in April 2024.

Will I receive feedback upon my work?

Selectors do not discuss the selection process or offer individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

I’ve missed the deadline. Can I still submit an application?

No. Unfortunately no applications will be accepted after the deadline date.

I do not have a complete manuscript yet. Can I still apply?

Yes.

Is there a word limit for my submission?

Yes, the word limit is 10,000 words (and the minimum is 7,000 words).

How can I write my bio without including identifying details?

Try to indicate the level of your experience without being too specific. For example, you might write ‘I have had many essays published in journals, including Griffith Review and Meanjin, and my first academic or literary book was published by [name of publisher] in September 2016.’ In general, it is advised not to include the titles of any published works. You can however mention any awards or fellowships received.

Does Varuna have access for writers with disabilities?

We now have a wheelchair-accessible studio and are currently working on a Disability Inclusion Action Plan so we can work on eliminating potential barriers to accessing our programs. If you are a writer with disability, please email varuna@varuna.com.au to discuss your specific requirements. Please note that we are not equipped to accommodate residents with challenging mental health conditions due to the complexity of issues such conditions may present. 

Can I apply for more than one Varuna fellowship at a time?

Yes. For example, our Varuna Residential fellowship program may be open at the same time as the Scribe fellowship, and you would be welcome to apply for both.

Can I apply for a fellowship submitting work that is already under contract with a publisher?

No. This program is open to unpublished and uncontracted manuscripts only.

If I am awarded a fellowship with this program, does this mean I am offered a publishing contract?

No. There is no obligation for Scribe Publications to offer you a contract at any stage during the fellowship. However, they do commit to providing feedback regarding your manuscript, both during the fellowship week and subsequently.

If I am accepted for a Scribe fellowship, can I approach other agents or publishers with my work?

Scribe Publications maintains first right of acceptance to publish your manuscript until they have had the opportunity to read and respond to a draft of the completed manuscript that includes any rework agreed during the residency.

Can I submit more than one application?

Yes. However, you will need to pay an application fee for each application you submit.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants need to be an Australian citizen or have a permanent residency visa and be over 18 years old.

 Is it all right to use endnotes in my submission?

Absolutely.