VARUNA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WRITING RESIDENCIES 2009
The Varuna Professional Development Writing Residency is a fee-paying, non-selective program enabling writers to work intensively for one week in the unique residential environment of Varuna under the supervision of an experienced tutor.
A Varuna Professional Development Writing Residency provides a unique environment wholly dedicated to writers and writing. Your stay at Varuna will be a combination of solitude, hard work, experienced guidance and good company within a community of writers.
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WRITING RESIDENCY?
The goal of the residency is to find out what the writer wants to achieve, and to assist that achievement through practical advice. 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.
Please note that from 2009 there will be two kinds of Professional
Development Residencies as well as the existing group format, it will be
possible to take a Professional Development Individual Residency with a
tutor.
Professional Development Individual Residencies offer more flexibility in that
individuals can receive mentoring from a tutor simultaneously with other writers
staying at Varuna who are working on their own projects. Professional
Development Individual Residencies will be available in designated weeks of
the year (see dates below) and there could be up to three people taking an
Individual Residency in the same week.
There will be two Professional Development Group Residencies in December (Nov
30-Dec 6 and Dec 14-20) in the same format as previously offered.
The objective of providing focused mentoring support in a supportive
environment through a combination of solitary
work and community is achieved in either a group or individual residency while
offering greater flexibility.
WHAT WRITERS SAY
I don't know of anywhere else in Australia where this kind of tuition could
be available. It's helped me to see how to approach the MS from a different
angle; a truer intention; and then the alignment of intention and expression.
It is incredible to be amongst like-minded people, and to have discussions,
conversations in a relaxed, good atmosphere. The fact that we were together a
whole week; saw each other's progress; discussed/bounced off ideas, etc.
Best of all of course were the consultations and discussions we enjoyed With
Peter. We learned so much, and we got so many wonderful suggestions!
- Wilma Phillipoom, August 2008
It's great to come out of the closet as a writer and see first hand what
others are experiencing and to have the companionship of other creative
people. Personally, I needed reassurance that my story was worth telling and
would have readers. I also needed someone with some sort of compass to help me
understand where I was at in the writing process. The distinction between
writer's draft and readers' draft was a major breakthrough in clarifying this
and gave me the direction I needed. I appreciated that the advice I received
was not prescriptive, but opened up my personal expression. It's so obvious
that Varuna staff are passionate about enhancing and encouraging the writing
process without infringing on the individual expression of it. And passionate
about the future of Australian literature.
- Esther Rocket, August 2008
HOW DO THE GROUP PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESIDENCIES WORK?
In order to apply for one of the two group
residencies in 2009, you need to fill out a VPDR Form A and send it in with a
one-page project description to confirm your projects suitability for a
Professional Development Residency.
Once you have been offered a place, your form will be processed and you will
pay a $300 non-refundable deposit.
Six weeks prior to the residency, a confirmation letter is sent, requesting you
to pay the balance and send in your whole
manuscript.
• The residency begins with drinks and dinner from 6pm on the day of arrival. The following morning there is a group session to discuss the essential aspects of the writing process. This is followed by individual consultations with 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.
The week concludes with dinner on Saturday night and you leave on Sunday by
noon.
Varuna and/or your tutor is not
able to offer individual follow up after the completion of your Professional
Development Residency. This means that we will not be able to accept re-worked
manuscripts or provide feedback on these.
During your residency your tutor
will provide you with suggestions and guidance on programs, including Varuna
programs, or other paid professional development opportunities you can access
after your residency is complete.
Varuna's Creative Director, Peter Bishop, has been working intensively with
writers for over thirteen years. He will guide the Professional Development
Group Residencies.
Group Residency dates for 2009:
| • Nov 30-Dec 6 | |
| • Dec 14-20 |
Places are limited to 5 writers in each group and are
awarded strictly in order of application.
HOW DOES THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INDIVIDUAL RESIDENCY WORK?
You need to fill out a
VPDR Form A and send it in
with a one-page project description to confirm your projects suitability for
a Professional Development Individual Residency and
select your preferred dates from those available.
Once you have been offered a place, your form will be processed and you will
pay a $300 non-refundable deposit. The balance needs to be paid a minimum of
four weeks prior to the residency.
You need to send in your manuscript to arrive at Varuna three weeks prior to
your residency together with comments about what youre trying to achieve
and any difficulties you are experiencing.
Your designated tutor will arrange with you to have a phone
consultation in the week prior to your residency to discuss a work plan for
your residency week.
You will arrive at Varuna on the Monday of your residency any time after
1pm.
You will have two further dedicated one-on-one consultations with your tutor during your residency.
You will have lots of time to work on your project and enjoy a sense of
community with the other writers staying at Varuna.
The residency will conclude on Monday morning at 10am.
Varuna and/or your tutor is not able to offer
individual follow up after the completion of your Professional Development
Residency. This means that we will not be able to accept re-worked manuscripts
or provide feedback on these.
During your residency your tutor will provide
you with suggestions and guidance on programs, including Varuna programs, or
other paid professional development opportunities you can access after your
residency is complete.
Tutors:
Peter Bishop, Varuna's Creative Director, has been working intensively
with writers for over thirteen years.
Helen Barnes-Bulley is a graduate of Sydney
University and of the National Institute of Dramatic Art. Helen has been a
writer of radio drama for the ABC and a recipient of an Australian Writers'
Guild Award. She has taught writing classes at schools, universities, TAFE and
at Varuna. She is a novelist and short story writer, and has also worked for
several years as an editor and literary assessor.
Carol Major holds a Doctorate of Arts Degree in creative writing from
the University of Technology in Sydney and is the recipient of an Australian
Post Graduate Award. She has taught creative writing at undergraduate and post
graduate university levels and to the wider community through the Sydney
Community College. Her creative works have appeared in Australian and Canadian
literary journals and anthologies.
Individual Residency designated weeks up to mid-2009:
| 2009 | |
| • Feb 2-9 | |
| • Feb 23-Mar 2 | |
| • Mar 2-9 | |
| • Mar 9-16 | |
| • June 1-8 | |
| • June 8-15 | |
| • June 15-22 | |
| • June 22-29 |
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Both Group and Individual Residencies cost $1500 per participant. This charge covers:
• accommodation and all meals for six nights for groups or seven nights
for individuals
• tuition and consultations.
You must send a non-refundable deposit of $300 to secure your place.
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
Anyone can apply for a Professional Development Residency, but applicants 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 one the writer is committed to bring to completion.
The writer must be willing to do what it takes to achieve this completion: it may even be necessary to go back to basics to rebuild on more secure foundations. Sometimes real progress may mean that the writer leaves Varuna with thousands fewer words than they arrived with.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Please ensure you have thoroughly read and understood all the information about Varuna Professional Development Residencies.
If you have any questions, please ring (02) 4782 5674 or email varuna@varuna.com.au
Download a Varuna Professional Development Residency booking form here.
Send the completed booking form with a non-refundable deposit ($300) and a one-page project description to the address on the booking form.
You will receive an email confirming your place once your deposit has been
received and your proposal assessed.
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