Varuna, The National Writers' House seen from above

For Writers

Varuna offer writers time and space to write in the ‘big yellow house’ in the Blue Mountains, with six writers-in-residence staying each week, benefiting from one-on-one mentorship, and the support of their peers. Writers can apply to stay at Varuna via one of our residency programs.

We also offer an extensive program of online masterclasses and intensives, designed to support writers to develop their craft, finish their project, and build connections. Unlike many other writing courses, Varuna masterclasses are by application, so that each of our online course groups is carefully curated with our expert facilitators.

Finally, we offer in-person workshops in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, throughout the year as well as during the Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival.

Chris Cannell 9/9/25 Chris Cannell 9/9/25

Ann Moyal Non-Fiction Fellowship

Applications now closed

The Ann Moyal Non-Fiction Fellowship encourages excellence in non-fiction writing and supports writers developing an original work drawn from the broad fields of the humanities and social sciences. Three writers will be selected for a three-week residency, 28 Sept - 19 Oct 2026.

Wei Clerkin 9/9/25 Wei Clerkin 9/9/25

Cove Park International Fellowship

Applications close 11 Dec 2025

Varuna alumni are eligible to apply for a four-week residency at Cove Park, Scotland, with the opportunity to present at Wigtown Book Festival.

Amy Sambrooke 8/9/25 Amy Sambrooke 8/9/25

Kickstart Your Writing Project with Ashley Hay

Applications close 28 Jan 2026

This six-session intensive masterclass offers the opportunity to get started on a new writing project or breathe life into a project you have abandoned or are struggling with.

Amy Sambrooke 7/9/25 Amy Sambrooke 7/9/25

Mastering Structure through Character Arcs

Applications close 10 March 2026

Designed for writers of all levels, genres and narrative art forms, this 16-session masterclass with BAFTA award-winning screenwriter and author Anthony Mullins will show you how to craft an authentic and powerful narrative structure.

Amy Sambrooke 7/9/25 Amy Sambrooke 7/9/25

Crafting Knockout Scenes

Applications close 14 April 2026

Scenes are the building blocks of novels, plays, screenplays, short stories, and even works of creative non-fiction. This 8-week program with Brooke Robinson will sharpen your writing to create truly powerful scenes.

Amy Sambrooke 6/9/25 Amy Sambrooke 6/9/25

The Art of Dialogue with Mary Anne Butler

Applications close 13 May 2026

This 8-week online program drills down deeply into how to craft dialogue on the page, ensuring that each of your character’s voices is unique, shaping their distinct speech patterns, and working on questions about who speaks, and when.

Chris Cannell 17/12/24 Chris Cannell 17/12/24

2025 Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival

Thank you all for coming to the 2025 Festival, and trusting in us for another year. 'Twas a weekend of laughter, curiosity, big ideas and challenging conversations. The Blue Mountains Writers Festival returns Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November 2026.