The HarperCollins Varuna Awards for Manuscript Development is Australia's most successful and productive meeting place between writers and publishers. So far, seven publications have resulted from the program, with two major debuts to take place in 2007. These debuts are:

Previous publications are:

DEADLINE: END OCTOBER EACH YEAR

All applications must be postmarked no later than the 31st October 2007.

FORMAT OF PROGRAM

The HarperCollins Varuna Awards for Manuscript Development Residential Program takes place over 10 days and involves four senior editors from HarperCollins Publishers. The editors consult intensively with the writers at the beginning and end of the Residential Program, and the writer has much independent time to develop the project. Consultation with the editors continues by arrangement after the program. Projects are selected with a view to publication.

IMPORTANT NOTE: HarperCollins does not guarantee publication of projects selected for the Editorial Workshop but reserves first rights to publish the project. Full details of the benefits and obligations of the program will be made available to all selected writers.

SELECTION PROCESS AND CRITERIA

Each application will be considered by a highly experienced selection panel.

The first stage is to select those projects that are suitable for proceeding to the second stage, and to send comments to those writers whose work was not selected.

Those selected to proceed to stage 2 (usually between 20 and 30 writers) will be asked to send as much of their projects as is currently readable. The selection panel will then decide on 15 projects that will be sent to the HarperCollins editors. Five of these projects will be selected by the editors and these writers will be offered a place in the HarperCollin Varuna Awards Residential Program. 

WHO SHOULD APPLY

• The HarperColliins Varuna Awards for Manuscript Development is available to people of 18 years and over.
• The HarperColliins Varuna Awards for Manuscript Development is available to Australian citizens or writers permanently resident in Australia.
• Applicants should be either new (no significant commercial publication record) or emerging (no more than one significant commercial publication) writers. A writer who has a significant publication record (for example as a poet or as a writer of illustrated books for children, or as a journalist) but no major publication in the field of fiction or narrative non-fiction may apply for the HarperColliins Varuna Awards for Manuscript Development. 
• We are looking for compelling and individual new voices.
• A writer who is contracted to any publisher for the project should not apply for the HarperColliins Varuna Awards for Manuscript Development.
• Projects in all commercially viable genres of fiction or narrative non-fiction will be considered, including young adult, junior, fantasy, romance, popular, crime, literary, travel, life writing, biography, etc.
• We are looking for projects with an established sense of direction and with clear potential for publication.
• It's hard to define exactly the stage a project should be at. We do recommend that the writer has the project well in motion and has a clear sense of direction. In general, HarperCollins editors will choose to work with a manuscript that is ready for editorial work.

COSTS OF THE PROGRAM

The application cost is $55.

The cost for the writers selected for the HarperCollins Varuna Awards for Manuscript Development Residential Program is $275, payable at least a month before the commencement of the program. This includes board and lodging provided by Varuna. Travel expenses are the responsibility of each writer, but State or Territory Arts Ministries regularly assist with Varuna-related expenses. A support letter will be provided on request.

 HarperCollins Varuna Awards for Manuscript Development Residential Program:  5

HOW YOU WILL BE INFORMED

• A list of the writers selected to go on to stage 2 of the Awards will be posted on the Varuna website under News & Diary by November 30 and these writers will be required to submit full manuscripts no later than December 10 2007.
• The names of the final 15 writers, whose projects will be submitted to HarperCollins editors, will be posted on the website by January 15 2008.
• The names of the final 5 writers selected for the HarperCollins Varuna Awards for Manuscript Development Residential Program will be posted on the website by the end of February 2008.

Please note that if you apply for the HarperCollins Varuna Awards for Manuscript Development your work will automatically be considered under the Pathways to Publication program.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply please read The Varuna Guidelines and then complete the Varuna Application Form.

  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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