Varuna, The National Writers' House, a place where writers' from all backgrounds can retreat to in times of creative pursuit. It is surrounded by green, yellow, and red trees under a bright blue sky, with a winding gravel driveway in front.

Alumni Features

If you would like to write a contribution for our alumni features page, we would love to hear from you. Please email varuna@varuna.com.au with your suggestion and we’ll get back to you.

Veechi Stuart 5/10/15 Veechi Stuart 5/10/15

Are we there yet?

Manuscript deadlines, children and the Musée Picasso

Veechi Stuart 5/9/15 Veechi Stuart 5/9/15

The Art of Activism

Writers should make great activists, being existentially programmed to explore and articulate ideas

Veechi Stuart 30/7/15 Veechi Stuart 30/7/15

It’s a tough gig when you’re past your prime

They used to say you could tell whether a woman had written a piece…

Veechi Stuart 7/7/15 Veechi Stuart 7/7/15

Alumni Interview: Helena Pastor

Helena Pastor spent two years hanging out with a group of disaffected lads in country NSW

Veechi Stuart 7/6/15 Veechi Stuart 7/6/15

Start Your Engines

It’s been over four years since I last had a desk…

Veechi Stuart 9/5/15 Veechi Stuart 9/5/15

Get ‘Em While They’re Hot

Sydney Writers’ Festival is upon us again

Veechi Stuart 3/4/15 Veechi Stuart 3/4/15

Read ‘Em and Weep

Sydney is not New York and you are not J.D. Salinger.

Veechi Stuart 3/3/15 Veechi Stuart 3/3/15

Alumni Interview: Lee Kofman

Alumna Lee Kofman has talks about her experience as a non-monogamist

Veechi Stuart 11/2/15 Veechi Stuart 11/2/15

Alumni Interview: Gabrielle Carey

Gabrielle Carey’s book Moving Among Strangers was a joint winner in the PM’s Literary Awards

Veechi Stuart 8/1/15 Veechi Stuart 8/1/15

Alumni Interview: Felicity Castagna

Varuna has plenty of reasons to celebrate the 2014 PM Literary Awards

Veechi Stuart 6/11/14 Veechi Stuart 6/11/14

On Privacy

The very act of pleading for privacy was what ensured my public exposure

Veechi Stuart 4/10/14 Veechi Stuart 4/10/14

Blasting into the Blogosphere

The internet has had a profound impact on being a writer.

Veechi Stuart 7/9/14 Veechi Stuart 7/9/14

Alumni Interview: Katerina Cosgrove

The personal meets the political with Katerina Cosgrove

Veechi Stuart 6/8/14 Veechi Stuart 6/8/14

Cash Me Up, Buttercup

This month’s topic: funding.

Veechi Stuart 5/7/14 Veechi Stuart 5/7/14

Festival Fever

Sydney Writers’ Festival brought Thinking Season to Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Read all about events and authors featured in this season’s sessions!