PUBLISHER INTRODUCTION PROGRAM 2019 - Shortlist Announced
Varuna is pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2019 Publisher Introduction Program (PIP).
This year we selected 24 unpublished manuscripts to send to our eight publishing partners: Allen and Unwin, Black Inc, HardieGrant, HarperCollins, Pan Macmillan, Penguin Random House, UQP and UWA Publishing. From these shortlisted manuscripts, five writers will receive a full PIP Fellowship which includes a one-week residency, a literary mentor and the opportunity to resubmit their manuscript to their selecting publisher. A further selection of shortlisted manuscripts will receive a partial PIP Fellowship.
We thank each of our publishing partners for taking the time to consider the work of these writers.
We also thank Varuna consultants Mary Cunnane, Vanessa Kirkpatrick, Jo Butler and Louise Thurtell who assessed the 146 manuscripts that writers submitted. Our assessors will be providing feedback about the selection process, which we will make available here later this week.
The shortlisted writers and their manuscripts are:
Kim Aikman, Heartwood
Gary Bryson, Thin Air
Cassy Cochrane, The Little Fakes
Adrienne Eberhard, Theo's Mermaid
Rebecca Edwards, All Things Return
Samuel Elliott, Schooled
Sally Hall, The House at Clearwater Cove
John Higgins,The Nice Lady and Other Stories
Julie Jedda Janson, Wilga
Diana Jarman,The Philatelist's Album: Illustrated
Luke Johnson,Ferocious Animals
Ian McArthur,The Poison Pin
Caroline Miley, Artist at Large
Mary-Ellen Mullane, Short Fall
Angela O'Keeffe, Night Blue
John Pitt, First Boy on the Moon
Sue Robertson, Letting Go
Toni Mia Simmonds, Stone Feather Skin
Annabel Smith, Monkey See
Suzanne Spunner, All About Rover Thomas
Emily Tsokos Purtill, Matia
Jessica Wallace, In Bloom
Angella Whitton,The Night River
Linda Woodrow, 470
Due to circumstances, the selection processes for both PIP and the First Nations Fellowships have been delayed.
All applicants will be notified in the next week or so. Thank you for your understanding.
The 2019 round of fellowships for Indigenous writers is now open under a program developed by Varuna the National Writers' House, Magabala Books, Sydney University and the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund.
Applications close 30 October 2018
A pathway to publication
Would you like the opportunity to have your work read by one of Australia's leading publishers, with a view to possible publication? Our Publisher Introduction Program (PIP) offers just that, along with a seven-day residency at Varuna and a manuscript consultation with one of Varuna's writing consultants.
Congratulations to the writers who have been awarded a Varuna Residency Fellowship for 2019.
This year we received 267 applications for Varuna Residency Fellowships. Submissions included applications from writers at all stages of their writing lives. Peer assessors read each applicant's submission and proposal and the 24 fellowships were decided upon through criteria that included the artistic merit of the work and the potential for development.
Thank you to all of the applicants who submitted their work for consideration this year.
Thank you to the editorial team at Affirm Press for selecting the writers that will participate in the Varuna & Affirm Press Mentorship Award 2018. These writers and their manuscripts are:
The Things She Owned by Katherine Arguile
Flume by Amanda Robinson
I Shot the Devil by Ruth McIver
Applications open on 16 June 2018 and close 30 July 2018
Varuna, the National Writers' House invites writers from across Australia to apply for a Varuna Residential Fellowship.
A Varuna Residential Masterclass offers a focused masterclass to writers with a shared interest in a particular area. Each week is limited to only five participants and includes a creative and stimulating mix of individual work time, facilitated sessions, one-on-one mentorship, as well as social time for unstructured conversation.
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2018 NSW LitLink Residential Fellowship. Read on for news of fellowship recipients and feedback from our consultants.
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2018 Arts NT Varuna Residential Fellowships.
Applications open online 1 May 2018 and close 31 May 2018
Affirm Press and Varuna the National Writers' House are pleased to announce that applications for the Affirm Press Mentorship Award are open online.
Our judging panel would like to commend the extremely high quality of the applications received. Surely this is proof that Varuna alumni represent all that is good in contemporary Australian writing.
We are delighted to announce that the recipient of the 2018 Tyrone Guthrie Fellowship is Eliza-Jane Henry-Jones.
Our judging panel wanted to also recognise Donna Mazza, who was a very close second place. We have decided to offer Donna one of our 2019 Varuna Fellowships in recognition of her outstanding application.
Thank you to the publishers from Black Inc, Pan Macmillan, Random House, Scribe Publishers, Harper Collins, Text, UQP and UWA Publishers for making the selection, and congratulations to the writers who will receive a fellowship.
Read on to see who the writers who will receive a PIP Fellowship 2018 and the Publishers who will read their work are:
Congratulations to this year's fellows:
Laura Elvery (Brisbane): Medallion: short stories about female Noble prize winners
Lech Blaine (Brisbane): memoir (an early extract was published in Griffith Review 56: Millennials Strike Back)
Tamson Pietsch (Sydney): The Floating University, an historical account of international ship university in the 1920s
Bill Wilkie (Daintree): An account of the Cedar Creek rebellion which formed the catalyst for the downfall of Joh's government.
Biff Ward (Canberra): Third Chopstick, a memoir of the Vietnam War
Varuna the National Writers' House is hosting exciting Sydney Writers' Festival events from 27-30 April in Katoomba, the Blue Mountains, featuring bestselling national and international writers. The festival also gives the community a chance to hone their writing skills with a selection of workshops and panel discussions.
- now open for applications -
Varuna, the National Writers House invites writers living in regional New South Wales and the greater Sydney area to apply for a two-week residency at this historic home in the Blue Mountains.
Funded by Create NSW, Varuna offers five LitLink Fellowships to writers working in all creative forms, including fiction, drama, poetry and narrative non-fiction.
Spread the word about Varuna's latest Fellowship supported by the Northern Territory Government through Arts NT.
Thank you to the 32 First Nations writers who submitted their work to the inaugural First Nations Writers fellowships. Our assessors Rachel Bin Salleh from Magabala Press and Dr Peter Minter from the University of Sydney spent many weeks reading these submissions, and were very impressed with the quality, range and authenticity of the work.
Varuna is pleased to announce the shortlist for the Publisher Introduction Program (PIP 2018).
This year we selected 25 unpublished manuscripts written by new or emerging Australian writers to send to our eight publishing partners.
Congratulations to the writers who have been awarded a Varuna Residency Fellowship for 2018.
Applications close 30 October 2017
Varuna's unique Publisher Introduction Program (PIP) is one of Australia's most dynamic literary partnerships, opening important doors for exceptional new writers in a creative, collaborative process that aims to deliver finely honed manuscripts to leading publishers.
Tulis 2018: A writing exchange between Indonesia and Australia has received grant funding from the Australia-Indonesia Institute of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Thank you to the editorial team at Affirm Press for selecting the writers that will participate in the Varuna & Affirm Press Mentorship Program 2017. These writers and their manuscripts are:
Edita Mujkic for her memoir From There to Here
Kathryn O’Connor for her literary fiction novel Inheritance
Kerry Littrich for her fiction novel The Grand Pacific
A Varuna Focus Week offers a residential masterclass to writers with a shared interest in a particular area. Each week is limited to only five participants and includes a creative and stimulating mix of individual work time, facilitated sessions, one on one mentorship, as well as social time for unstructured conversation.
Applications open on 16 June 2017 and close 30 July 2017
Varuna, the National Writers House invites writers and illustrators from across Australia to apply for a Varuna Residential Fellowship.
Congratulations to the recipients of the NSW LitLink Residential Fellowship. Read on for news of fellowship recipients and feedback from our consultants.
News from the Hut
I’m introducing a new feature for our newsletter: a few editorial words from the Creative Director to let you know what’s going on in that small wooden hut that functions as an office for the Varuna staff.
Thank you to the publishers from Black Inc, Pan Macmillan, Random House, Scribe Publishers, Text, UQP and UWA Publishers for making the selection, and congratulations to the writers who will receive a fellowship.
There are 12 patchwork quilts in Varuna, which were created in 1999 and 2000.
Resident Carolynne Gordon wrote this article about them.
Varuna, the National Writers House invites writers living in regional New South Wales and the greater Sydney area to apply for a two-week residency at this historic home in the Blue Mountains. Writers who have been awarded a LitLink Fellowship have said:
'Beautiful setting, inspiring house – home of Eleanor Dark, the library is vast, the food magnificent, room and writing areas fantastic – where else could all this happen';
194 manuscripts were submitted to Varuna for consideration for the 2017 program. Each of these manuscripts were assessed by at least two of our four consultants: Carol Major, Helen Barnes-Bulley, Stephen Measday and Vanessa Kirkpatrick.
Varuna is thrilled to announce the shortlist for the Publisher Introduction Program (PIP 2017).
THE NT VARUNA RESIDENCY FELLOWSHIPS 2017
Congratulations to the writers who have been awarded aN NT Varuna Residency Fellowship for 2017.
VARUNA RESIDENCY FELLOWSHIPS 2017
Congratulations to the writers who have been awarded a Varuna Residency Fellowship for 2017.
Thank you to the editorial team at Affirm Press for selecting the writers that will participate in the Affirm Mentorship Program 2016. These writers and their manuscripts are:
Angela J Williams for her Creative non-fiction/memoir - Snakes and Ladders: A memoir of the prison game
Stephen Gray for his literary fiction novel: The Family Plot
Sonia Orchard for her adult literary fiction: About the Fire
Applications close 30 October 2016
Varuna’s unique Publisher Introduction Program (PIP) is one of Australia’s most dynamic literary partnerships, opening important doors for exceptional new writers in a creative, collaborative process that aims to deliver finely honed manuscripts to leading publishers.
It’s a 40 year old dream starting with smurf-inspired short stories to full length novels, but I'm finally able to announce that Pan Macmillan have signed me up on a two book deal having won the Publishing Introduction Program through Varuna House in 2016. I'll be working with the same editor and publisher who edits for Markus Zusak (The Book Thief), Cloudwish (Fiona Wood) and Andy Griffiths (13 Storey Treehouse series). I am very humbled to be in this position and when I went to meet the publisher for lunch I nearly sat down on the floor under the Pan Macmillan sign and cried--with pure happiness. A new chapter begins. I must thank Varuna House and the Publishing Introduction Program; it's amazing mentors and supporters have helped me get to this point in my writing career. WRITING DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE!
Taryn Bashford, PIP 2016
The Future is Wild - the Mick Dark Talk for the Future 2016 on Sunday 25 September
16-17 September 2016
Bookings for The Rose Scott Women Writers Festival, now open on the Festival website, are filling up fast. Don’t miss out.
Spread the word to your NT colleagues about Varuna’s latest Fellowship supported by the Northern Territory Government through Arts NT.
NSW LitLink Residential Fellowships 2016
Congratulations to the recipients of the NSW LitLink Residential Fellowship. Read on for news of fellowship recipients and feedback from our consultants.
Varuna is now accepting applications for our 2016 Residential Focus Weeks
Varuna has a relaxed, friendly and informal atmosphere – Varuna is your home for a week. You’ll be writing, living and eating together with a group of 4 other writers.
Applications open on 16 June 2017 and close 30 July 2017
Varuna, the National Writers House invites writers and illustrators from across Australia to apply for a Varuna Residential Fellowship.
Affirm Press and Varuna the National Writers House are thrilled to announce that applications are now open online for The Affirm Press Mentorship Award. Applications close 15 June 2016.
Thank you to the publishers from Pan Macmillan, Random House, Scribe Publishers, Text, UQP and UWA Publishers for making the selection and congratulations to the writers who will receive a fellowship.
The writers who will receive a PIP Fellowship 2016 and the Publishers who will read their work are:
Varuna the National Writers House will be accepting applications from writers living in regional NSW and Sydney Surrounds for the 2016 LitLink Residential Fellowship from 15 March.
LitLink Fellowships offers writers working in all creative forms, including fiction, drama, poetry and narrative non-fiction, a two-week residency at Varuna in the Blue Mountains, NSW.
Applications close 30 April 2016
For full details and to apply visit: www.varuna.com.au or phone: (02) 4782 5674
Varuna thanks Arts NSW for supporting this wonderful initiative.
PUBLISHER INTRODUCTION PROGRAM 2016 – Feedback From the Readers
190 manuscripts were submitted to Varuna for consideration for the 2016 program. Each of these manuscripts were assessed by at least two of our four consultants; Carol Major, Helen Barnes-Bulley, Stephen Measday and Deb Westbury.
In making their selection for the shortlist the Consultants continued to look for fresh voices, strong ideas, good writing, a clear sense of who the reader for the work was and an original approach to what might be familiar material. Consultants continued to assess the work blind with each of the shortlisted works reviewed by the four consultants.
We asked them for their general impressions of the work submitted and how they approached this marathon assessment process.
Carol writes about the selection process and also the importance of a well written synopsis and logline, Stephen talks about being wary of overly long prologues that sometimes delay the book from starting and the need when writing historical fiction to consider why these stories continue to be relevant today, Helen lets you know what she is looking for when reading manuscripts and Deb talks about the importance of generosity and writing with all of your senses.
I hope you find their comments and views useful.
From all at Varuna we wish you all the best for your writing.
Jansis O’Hanlon, Varuna CEO
PUBLISHER INTRODUCTION PROGRAM 2016 – The Shortlist
Varuna is thrilled to announce the shortlist for the Publisher Introduction Program (PIP 2016).
This year we selected thirty unpublished manuscripts written by new Australian writers to send to our six publishing partners. From these shortlisted manuscripts we have asked our publishing partners to select two manuscripts each to award the writer a PIP Fellowship. We thank each of our Publishing partners for taking the time to consider the work of these writers. We also thank Varuna Consultants Helen Barnes-Bulley, Carol Major, Stephen Measday and Deb Westbury who assessed the 190 manuscripts that writers submitted to Varuna for PIP 2016.
And the writers and their mansucripts are ...
Congratulations to the writers who have been awarded a Varuna Residency Fellowship for 2016.
You're invited to an intimate conversation with one of Australia’s most acclaimed writers Drusilla Modjeska as she talks about her stunning new memoir - Second Half First with Stephanie Bishop at the The Carrington Hotel Ballroom, Katoomba, Thursday 19 November, 2015 5.30pm for 6.00 start.
Applications close 30 October 2015
Varuna’s unique Publisher Introduction Program (PIP) is one of Australia’s most dynamic literary partnerships, opening important doors for exceptional new writers in a creative, collaborative process that aims to deliver finely honed manuscripts to leading publishers.
Thank you to the editorial team at Affirm Press for selecting the writers that will participate in the Affirm Mentorship Program 2016. These writers and their manuscripts are:
Angela J Williams for her Creative non-fiction/memoir - Snakes and Ladders: A memoir of the prison game
Stephen Gray for his literary fiction novel: The Family Plot
Sonia Orchard for her adult literary fiction: About the Fire
Varuna is thrilled to announce Tim Flannery as the speaker for the Inaugural Mick Dark Talk for the Future on Saturday 19 September.
Monday 26 October - Sunday 1 November 2015
Immerse yourself in listening to, discussing and writing creative audio works in this six-day Focus Week residency led by Jane Ulman, at Varuna, the National Writers’ House in the Blue Mountains, NSW. Varuna Focus Weeks offer a themed residential week to developing and experienced writers with a shared interest in a particular area of writing.
The board of the Eleanor Dark Foundation welcomes David White as chair of the Foundation.
Monday 19th – Sunday 25 October 2015
Strictly Poetry is a six-day residency in the company of poets led by Deb Westbury, at Varuna, the National Writers’ House in the Blue Mountains, NSW. Varuna Focus Weeks offer a themed residential week to developing and experienced writers with a shared interest in a particular area of writing.
It’s two years now since I joined the Strictly Poetry Focus Week at Varuna run by Deb Westbury (she’s brilliant). In many ways I am still reaping the benefit from the work we did each day. So if you are thinking of going—go, give yourself a whole week with words in like-minded company in that setting.
Kathryn Fry
Focus: the Greek word for fire – a sharing of attention – to intensify
A Varuna Focus Week offers a themed residential week to developing and experienced writers with a shared interest in a particular area of writing. Focus weeks include individual work-time and facilitated sessions and may also include one-on-one mentorship. Focus Weeks are led by some of Australia’s best cultural facilitators with each Focus Week Facilitator designing a unique and stimulating program that promotes writing, conversation and engagement. Click here for more details.
Applications open on 16 June 2015 and close 30 July 2015
Varuna, the National Writers House invites writers and illustrators from across Australia to apply for a Varuna Residential Fellowship.
NSW LitLink Residential Fellowships 2015
Congratulations to the recipients of the NSW LitLink Residential Fellowship. Read on for news of fellowship recipients and feedback from our consultants
This four-week course is an introduction to the journey of writing your life and will be held at Varuna, the National Writers House in Katoomba over four Fridays - November 13, 20, 27 & Dec 4, 2015 - 10am to 1pm. Morning tea included.
Affirm Press and Varuna the National Writers House are thrilled to announce an astounding new award for writers, The Affirm Press Mentorship Award. This new creative partnership offers up to four writers developing exceptional new work the opportunity to work with the Affirm Press publishing team while in residence at Varuna in the Blue Mountains NSW.
Thank you to the publishers from Pan Macmillan, Random House, Scribe Publishers, Text, UQP and UWA Publishers for making the selection and congratulations to the writers who will receive a fellowship.
The writers who will receive a PIP Fellowship 2015 and the Publishers who will read their work are:
Autumn is in the air... bringing the promise of the Varuna with Sydney Writers’ Festival - perfect weather for reading, thinking and writing.
Keep your calendars free for Varuna’s four-day Blue Mountains Program of the Sydney Writers Festival, 16-19 May.
At the House – Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May
At the Carrington – Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 May
Varuna the National Writers House will be accepting applications for the 2015 LitLink Residential Fellowship from 16 March.
220 manuscripts were submitted to Varuna for consideration for the 2014 programme. Each of these manuscripts were assessed by at least two of our four consultants; Carol Major, Helen Barnes-Bulley, Stephen Measday and Deb Westbury.
In making their selection for the shortlist the Consultants continued to look for fresh voices, strong ideas, good writing, a clear sense of who the reader for the work was and an original approach to what might be familiar material. Consultants continued to assess the work blind with each of the shortlisted works reviewed by the four consultants.
We asked them for their general impressions of the work submitted and how they approached this marathon assessment process.
Varuna is thrilled to announce the shortlist for the Publisher Introduction Program (PIP 2015).
This year we selected thirty-four original new manuscripts written by emerging Australian writers to send to our six publishing partners. From these shortlisted manuscripts we have asked our publishing partners to select up to fourteen manuscripts (two each plus two wild cards) to which we will award the writer a PIP Fellowship.
We thank each of our Publishing partners for taking the time to consider the work of these writers. We also thank Varuna Consultants Helen Barnes-Bulley, Carol Major, Stephen Measday and Deb Westbury who assessed the 220 unpublished manuscripts that writers submitted to Varuna as part of PIP 2015.
Keep your calendars free on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th May for the Varuna-Sydney Writers' Festival Blue Mountains Program.
Congratulations to the writers who have been awarded a Varuna Residency Fellowship for 2015.
We are very pleased to announce that the winner of the 2014 Award is Joshua Lobb for his manuscript, Remission. Joshua will be spending a fortnight at Varuna with LitLink Fellowship recipients: Frances Olive, Susan Reynolds, Sharon Dean and Greg Woodland (who was also shortlisted for the Unpublished Manuscript Award).
Supported by Arts NSW the LitLink Unpublished Manuscript Award is for writers living in regional NSW and is a partnership between Byron Bay Writers' Festival and Varuna.
Supporting the best in new Australian writing and illustrating.
Each year since 1991 Varuna has offered at least 25 Fellowships for Writing Retreats. Over 21 years, Varuna has developed a unique environment encouraging sustained work, conversation and community among writers. Varuna Fellowships for Writing Retreats offer writers a residency in an environment wholly dedicated to writing, with accommodation and full board provided, to develop an established writing or illustration project.
Congratulations to the recipients of the NSW LitLink Residential Fellowship.
This year’s LitLink Awards had the largest number of manuscript submissions of any round yet receiving 65 manuscripts from writers living in regional NSW and the greater Sydney area.
The Blue Mountains Program for the 2014 Sydney Writers' Festival is now available here.
For four exhilarating days distinguished writers from around Australia, the world and these beautiful Blue Mountains will engage in challenging discussions, inspirational readings, sophisticated analysis and some deep reflection on how and why they pursue the intriguing and controversial ideas that inspire their passionate creativity.
Varuna is proud to announce the recipients of the 2014 Publisher Introduction Program Fellowships.
Thank you to the publishers from Allen and Unwin, Pan Macmillan, Picaro Press, Random House, Scribe Publishers, Text and UQP for making the selection and congratulations to the writers who will receive a fellowship. In a field of exceptional writing and story telling the choice was not an easy one.
The writers who will receive a PIP 2014 Fellowship and the Publishers who will read their work
Keep your calendars free on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th May for the Varuna with Sydney Writers' Festival Blue Mountains Program!
For writers of fiction and narrative non-fiction living in regional NSW and the greater Sydney area.
Last week we announced the 36 writers shortlisted for Varuna's Publisher Introduction Programme.
280 manuscripts were submitted to Varuna for consideration for the 2014 programme. Each of these manuscripts were assessed by at least two of our four consultants; Carol Major, Helen Barnes-Bulley, Stephen Measday and Deb Westbury. We asked them for their general impressions of the work submitted and how they approached this marathon assessment process.
Varuna is thrilled to announce the shortlist for the Publisher Introduction Program (PIP 2014) of thirty-six original new manuscripts created by emerging Australian writers and poets.
The photos from our Open Day in September are now on this site in our Photo Gallery.
The 2013 NSW Writers' Centre Varuna Fellowship has been awarded to Helen Thurloe for her Young Adult novel, The Sublimation of Azra, about a 16-year-old Pakistani girl from Sydney's west with a passion for science.
Varuna is seeking a creative, collaborative and organised person to be our new Program and Promotions Co-ordinator.
Congratulations to those who were awarded a Fellowship Retreat in 2014!
Congratulations to the recipients of the NSW LitLink Varuna Fellowship residencies!
Photographs from this year's Sydney Writers' Festival in the Blue Mountains are now available in the Photo Gallery section of the
Varuna website.
The State Government has launched NSW Creative Industries and Varuna has participated in the launch.
The following have been selected as the recipients of the Varuna Publisher Program 2013. Congratulations!
The winners have now been announced for the HarperCollins Varuna Awards for Manuscript Development.
Congratulations to the winners and the fantastic writers for this year's HarperCollins Varuna Awards!
by Varuna director David White
“It’s a lonely, miserable existence, writing,” said Morag Fraser, sometime Miles Franklin award judge, to us at one stage.
The Board of the Eleanor Dark Foundation Ltd has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer for VarunaThe Writers’ House.
Jansis O'Hanlon will take up the position in late November, 2012.
The following authors have been successful in being selected for residency in 2013.
ABC Radio National's Oz Classics Book Club turned to Eleanor Dark's The Timeless Land on 25 May 2012 at 10:a5 am.
Allen&Unwin re-release Eleanor Dark's novel Return to Coolami.
An emotional novel that explores the psychological impact of four people thrown closely together during the course of a motor trip from Sydney to the interior of Australia.