The Varuna Professional Development Residencies program has been created for those writers who are working intensively on projects and would like to work with Varuna's Creative Director Peter Bishop in an intensive forum. This is a fee-paying, non-selective program. 

OBJECTIVE

The objective is for the writer to leave the Residency with a clear and confident plan for the future development of a specified project, and an enhanced and enthusiastic sense of what it means to be a writer.

WHAT HAPPENS?

Varuna is an environment wholly dedicated to writers and writing. A Varuna Professional Development Residency provides a unique community environment, offering a combination of solitude, good company, hard work, experienced guidance and fascinating conversations.

Varuna's Creative Director, Peter Bishop, has been working intensively with writers for over thirteen years. Before the Residency, Peter reads all the material that you send (preferably the whole manuscript) so that he is very familiar with your work. His philosophy is to find out what the writer wants to achieve and to assist that achievement through practical advice. He aims to provide both a map and a mirror, assisting the writer to find who and where they are, and where it's possible for them to go.

The first engagement on the arrival day is drinks and dinner from 6pm. Next day starts with a group session discussing the essential aspects of the writing process and working with writers. This is followed by individual consultations for each writer.

Individual consultations and much time for private work form the basis for the rest of the week. Each evening the group meets for a reading and discussion before dinner.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

Writers should be well advanced on a project. The project can be in any genre of fiction or narrative non-fiction. It should be a project that's been in mind for a long time and it should be a project that the writer is committed to bring to completion.

The writer must be willing to do what it takes to achieve this completion. This might mean going back to basics and rebuilding on more secure foundations. Sometimes real progress may mean that the writer leaves Varuna with thousands fewer words than they arrived with.

If that worries you, this may not be the program for you!

WHAT IS THE COST?

The cost per participant is $1500. This includes all accommodation and meals for six nights, as well as tuition and consultation costs. A follow-up service, offering a full reading plus a one-hour consultation, is available at the special subsidised rate of $220. All costs include GST.

WHEN, WHERE AND HOW DO I APPLY?

There will be four residencies in 2008:

Places are limited to 5 in each class and are awarded strictly in order of application.

The workshops will be held at

Varuna - The Writers' House
141 Cascade St.,
Katoomba

• Ensure you have read thoroughly and understood all the information about Varuna Professional Development Residencies - if you have any questions, please ring (02) 4782 5674  or email admin@varuna.com.au

• Download a Residency booking form

• Send the booking form with a non-refundable deposit ($300) and a 1-page proposal or precise of your project

• You will receive a letter confirming your place in the Residency once your proposal and deposit have been received

CONTACTING THE WRITERS HOUSE

141 Cascade St, Katoomba, NSW 2780, Australia

Telephone: (02) 4782 5674 - International callers: +61 2 47 82 5674

Fax: (02) 4782 6220 - International faxes: +61 2 47 82 6220
Email: varuna@varuna.com.au - click here to email Varuna

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Site most recently updated 6 March, 2008.

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