Mentoring Program for Emerging Writers from Diverse Backgrounds
As part of the 2023 program, up to six emerging writers from Indigenous or culturally diverse backgrounds will be given the opportunity to work on a short piece of fiction or non-fiction (2000-5000 words) under the guidance of award-winning author Eugen Bacon and with support from Writing NSW. The aim of the program is to ready the works for publication on the Writing NSW website or other leading journals or platforms.
The program is open to emerging writers from Indigenous or culturally diverse backgrounds who have some record of publication but have not yet published a book-length work. Applicants must be NSW residents and over the age of 18.
Successful applicants will receive:
- Mentoring from Eugen Bacon between September and December 2023, including the opportunity to receive feedback on two drafts of the work and advice on where to submit it for publication
- Membership and development opportunities from Writing NSW, including a free short course of their choosing (subject to availability)
- The opportunity to submit their work for publication on Writing NSW platforms
Please read the Terms & Conditions before applying.
Applications for the 2023 program closed on 20 August 2023.
Eugen Bacon is an African Australian author of several novels, prose poetry and fiction collections. She’s a 2022 World Fantasy Award finalist, and was announced in the honour list of the 2022 Otherwise Fellowships for ‘doing exciting work in gender and speculative fiction’. Her short story release Danged Black Thing received a 2021 Otherwise Award honour as a ‘sharp collection of Afro-Surrealist work’. Recent books include Mage of Fools (novel), Chasing Whispers (short stories) and An Earnest Blackness (essays). Eugen has two novels, a novella and three anthologies (ed) out in 2023, including Serengotti, a novel, and the US release of Danged Black Thing.
This program was initially run in 2021. Read about the 2022 winners.
Learn more about our diversity initiatives here.
