The Affirm Press Mentorship Award FAQ 

How much is the application fee for the program?
Application fees are $65 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 you have a Healthcare card, the application fee is $35.

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 (GST-free) 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 at a date to be confirmed when the callout opens.

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 December 2022.

Will I receive feedback on my work?
Assessors are not able to 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 submission due date.

I submitted work to the Affirm Press Mentorship Award program last year. Can I resubmit the same work this year?
While there is no limit to how often you may apply for a fellowship, we request that you do not resubmit a work that you have already submitted in a previous year unless there has been substantial reworking/revision.

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).

Can I exceed the word count for items on the cover page such as the synopsis or bio?
We do not count each word and penalise you for going a few words over, but we do appreciate if you could endeavour to stick within the word count limits suggested.

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 literary journals, including Griffith Review and Meanjin, and my first novel was published by Black Inc. in September 2018.' 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?
The new Jerra Studio at Varuna provides fully accessible self-contained accommodation, and a ramp into the main house means that the downstairs living areas are also accessible. If you are a writer with disability, please email maeve@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 fellowship program will open before results are announced for the Affirm fellowships, and you are 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 Affirm 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 an Affirm Press Mentorship fellowship, can I approach other agents or publishers with my work?
Affirm Press maintains first right of acceptance to your manuscript until they have had the opportunity to read and respond to the completed or reworked draft. At this stage Affirm Press will either release you from this agreement or issue publishing contracts for works they would like to publish or further develop.

I work with another writer collaboratively. If our application is successful, can we come to Varuna together?
If your writing is genuinely a joint work, please contact maeve@varuna.com.au to explain your specific requirements. We will try to accommodate you if we possibly can.

Can I submit more than one application?
Yes. However, you will need to pay an application fee for each application you submit.