VARUNA FELLOWSHIPS FOR WRITING RETREATS

Varuna Fellowships for Writing Retreats offer a writer a residency with independent writing time, accommodation and full board at Varuna, The Writers' House in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia.

Retreat Writing Fellowships are offered in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, genre writing, writing and/or illustrating children's books, dramatic/screen writing, translation, essays or short fiction.

VarunaFellowships for Writing Retreats are purely residential and do not provide for mentorship, editing assistance, classes, or formal discussions of the work with other writers. Fellows are expected to work independently once in residence.

In 2008 Varuna will award up to sixteen Varuna Fellowships for Writing Retreats of three weeks each and up to four Flagship Fellowships of four weeks each.

Of the sixteen Varuna Fellowships for Writing Retreats, three are designated as Australian Poetry Centre Fellowships.

VARUNA FLAGSHIP FELLOWSHIPS FOR WRITING RETREATS

Varuna awards four Flagship Fellowships for Writing Retreats for Varuna Fellowship applications of outstanding quality. Writers cannot apply specifically for the Flagship Fellowships; rather, they are offered to individuals whose applications are deemed outstanding. The successful Flagship Fellowship applicants will each be offered a four-week writing residency at Varuna. The Flagship Fellowships are:

Eleanor Dark Writing Fellowship - Fiction
Established in memory of Eleanor Dark, this writing fellowship will be awarded to a fiction application of outstanding quality.

Eric Dark Writing Fellowship - Non-fiction
Established in memory of Eric Dark, this writing fellowship will be awarded for a non-fiction application of outstanding quality in social, historical or political writing.

Mick Dark Writing Fellowship - Enviromental Writing
Established to acknowledge the contribution by Mick Dark to the establishment of Varuna, this writing fellowship will be awarded for an environmental writing application of outstanding quality in any genre or discipline.

Dorothy Hewett Writing Fellowship - Poetry
Established in memory of Blue Mountains resident and poet, Dorothy Hewett, this fellowship will be awarded for a poetry application of outstanding quality. This writing residency also includes 20 hours' editorial consultation, with the editor to be selected by the writer.

What Writers Say

By remaining so deeply inside the story - by living in it - without distractions, unexpected things happen to my writing during fellowship stays. Problems get solved, key scenes pop out - last time the end of my novel arrived of its own accord - all because the brain is left alone to do its quiet work of connecting images and ideas. All because there is nothing else to be at Varuna but a writer.
        - Vicki Hastrich, author of The Great Arch (Eleanor Dark Flagship Fellowship, 2005)

Sitting at your desk at Varuna, gazing on to the garden, if you listen very carefully through the silence - that quietness that has lured you there to write without distraction - there is music. It’s played at computer keyboards by an ensemble of strangers, soon to be friends, alone together under one roof, united in a common pursuit to make words dance.
        - Mark Wakely, author of Sweet Sorrow: A Beginner's Guide to Death (CALFellowship, 2006)

My work space was embraced by tree branches, touched with dappled sunlight and filled with the drawings and ideas that just streamed out of my imagination. I have never known such an inspiring place. You don't realise the value of completely uninterrupted work until you are there. Days pass and you structure hours as you need to. Time to walk, time to think, time for things to properly develop, and everyone coming together over wonderful evening meals to talk and laugh. I slept well and woke each morning with birds singing and thoughts itching to get onto paper.
         - Elise Hurst, illustrator (Retreat Fellowship, 2007)

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

Applicants for the Varuna Fellowships for Writing Retreats must have confidence in the direction of their project and be able to work independently. When considering whether to apply, you should also consider your logistical ability to take up the residency. Varuna Fellowships for Writing Retreats are taken in a single 3-week block and cannot be taken as single weeks except under exceptional circumstances, and by agreement with Varuna. Varuna Fellowships are available to Australian citizens or permanent residents 18 years and over. For more information click here.

CLOSING DATE

The closing date for 2008 applications for Varuna Fellowships for Writing Retreats is 30 June 2008. We will not accept applications for Varuna Fellowships before June 1.

IS THERE ANY COST?

There is an application fee of $55 for Varuna Fellowships for Writing Retreats. If your application is successful, you must pay a further Varuna Fellowship Contribution of $100 per week of residence (up to $300).

HOW MANY VARUNA FELLOWSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE?

In 2008 Varuna will award up to 20 Varuna Fellowships for Writing Retreats.

WHEN CAN RETREAT FELLOWSHIPS BE TAKEN?

Varuna Fellowships for Writing Retreats are taken between 1 October 2008 and 30 June 2009. Successful applicants are required to contact Varuna to nominate their preferred dates. Click here for more information.

SELECTION PROCESS

Selections for the Varuna Fellowships for Writing Retreats are made by a committee of three - the Creative Director plus two members of the Varuna Alumni Association. Successful applicants will be announced on the NEWS AND DIARY page of the website on FRIDAY 1 AUGUST, 2008. 

HOW DO I APPLY?

Before applying for a Varuna Fellowship for Writing Retreat you should have read and understood:

• The Varuna Fellowships for Writing Retreats program information (this section)
• The Varuna Fees & Application Guidelines for Varuna Fellowships for Writing Retreats
• before completing the Application Form for Varuna Fellowships for Writing Retreats (link from Varuna Fees & Application Guidelines section)

Click HERE for Varuna Fees and Application Guidelines for Varuna Fellowships for Writing Retreats.

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