Text Publishing and Writing NSW are proud to announce the 2023 Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship, with support from the First Nations Australia Writers Network and Booktopia.The prize was established in 2019 to discover and nurture a powerful new Indigenous voice in Australian literature. The successful applicant will be paired with a senior Indigenous writer and will receive professional development from Text Publishing and Writing NSW.
The program will pair an emerging Indigenous writer from anywhere in Australia with a senior Indigenous writer for a structured year-long mentorship. The writer will receive 20 hours of mentorship over the following year, including feedback on their work in progress and general advice on writing and developing a publishing career. If possible, an opportunity to meet with the mentor face to face will be provided. The writer will also receive editorial feedback and manuscript development from Text Publishing and access to Writing NSW professional development services.
At the conclusion of the mentorship, Text Publishing will have the exclusive first right to consider the winning manuscript for publication, under terms to be negotiated with the writer. Since the establishment of the mentorship in 2019 two of the mentored writers, John Morrissey and Lenora Thaker, have been offered publishing deals by Text Publishing.
Writers do not need to have a full manuscript at the time of submission, though they must have made substantial progress on a manuscript, which they intend to complete (refer to submission requirements). Applicants must not previously have had a full-length work of fiction or non-fiction professionally published.
Submissions must be either a work of fiction (including short-story collections) or narrative non-fiction for adult, kids (middle grade) or young adults. Please note that poetry, plays, picture books and practical non-fiction are ineligible.
Submissions will be judged by Jane Harrison, an award-winning playwright and author who is descended from the Muruwari people of NSW, in consultation with representatives from Text Publishing and Writing NSW.
Applications close midnight (AEST) Monday 12 December 2022.