Penguin Random House Varuna Fellowship
One unpublished writer will receive a two-week residency at Varuna, delivered in partnership with Penguin Random House, who will provide editorial feedback on the author’s work-in-progress.
Applications close: midnight AEST 15 May 2026
Residency dates: Between September 2026 - September 2027, arranged directly with Varuna based on availability
Places: One unpublished writer will be selected
Who should apply: Unpublished writers with a manuscript ready for editorial feedback and development
FAQs: Please read the FAQs before you apply.
ABOUT THIS FELLOWSHIP
The Penguin Random House Varuna Fellowship will be awarded to an unpublished writer with a complete fiction or memoir manuscript that would benefit from editorial support. This fellowship is made possible by Penguin Random House and is designed to foster opportunities for unpublished authors.
This fellowship is for fiction and memoir writers.
The recipient will receive:
A two-week residential fellowship at Varuna, with uninterrupted time to write in your own private studio. All food is provided, with an evening meal prepared by our cook, Dionne, to be enjoyed with the companionship of your fellow writers.
A one-hour consultation with a Varuna mentor, Carol Major, Mary Anne Butler or Tegan Bennett-Daylight.
Two editorial meetings with members of the Penguin Random House editorial team, one prior to your residency, and one after you’ve attended your residency.
If you accept this fellowship, Penguin Random House will have first right of refusal on your manuscript when the first draft after the fellowship is completed. Penguin Random House will have 90 days to make an offer to publish the work after submission to their editors, and the work may not be submitted to any other publishers during this period.
For more information about staying at Varuna, visit our Residencies page.
HOW TO APPLY
The Penguin Random House Fellowship is awarded to an unpublished writer of a fiction or memoir manuscript who applies for a Varuna Residential Fellowship. There is no separate application process.
For the purposes of this fellowship, ‘unpublished authors’ are those who have not published a book-length work with a publisher, and do not have a publishing contract for their work-in-progress. Applicants who have self-published, or who have had short works published in anthologies, journals and collections are eligible to apply.
Please refer to Varuna’s general submission guidelines for any questions on formatting your work.
ABOUT PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE
Penguin Books Australia is the home of the world’s largest trade book publisher, Penguin Random House. The company, which employs more than 10,000 people globally, comprises adult and children’s fiction and nonfiction print and digital trade book publishing businesses in more than 20 countries worldwide.
From future classics to cherished favourites, we champion emerging voices and bring readers the highest-quality books from established, award-winning and bestselling authors. Since its inception in 1935, the Penguin Shield has been synonymous with integrity and accessibility. Our mission remains to nourish a universal passion for reading by celebrating stories and ideas that entertain, educate and inspire.
Our commitment extends beyond simply achieving success in the publishing industry; we also aspire to make a positive impact. Each book we publish contributes to this broader goal. We are proud of our longstanding charity partnerships with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, the Story Factory and the Imagination Library. Furthermore, we are dedicated to promoting diverse representation, fostering well-being, and championing inclusion within our workplace.
Recognising our responsibility in preserving the environment for future generations, Penguin Books Australia acknowledges the crucial role we play in creating a sustainable future. By minimizing the environmental footprint of our operations and products, we have set a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2030.
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