Presented by Writing NSW and Text Publishing
The annual Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship is now open.
Presented by Writing NSW and Text Publishing, with support from the First Nations Australia Writers Network (FNAWN), the mentorship is awarded annually to an unpublished Indigenous writer who has made substantial progress on a work of fiction or non-fiction. The intention of the program is to support the writer to develop their manuscript and to facilitate a pathway to publication.
On winning the mentorship in 2024, Kalem Murray said: ‘I am incredibly excited for this amazing opportunity. Having the brilliant Mykaela Saunders as a mentor can only help refine my skill as a writer, and with her guidance make the murky text I put to paper that much more legible. Thank you so much John Morrissey, Writing NSW and Text Publishing for choosing my manuscript and giving me this chance.’
How It Works
The program pairs an emerging Indigenous writer from anywhere in Australia with an established Indigenous writer for a structured year-long mentorship. The writer receives 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 is provided. The writer also receives editorial feedback and manuscript development from Text Publishing and access to Writing NSW professional development services.
At the conclusion of the mentorship, Text Publishing 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 three of the mentored writers, John Morrissey, Lenora Thaker, and Allanah Hunt, have been offered publishing deals by Text Publishing.
How To Apply
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.
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED. To review the submission requirements click here.
About the Judge
The 2025 Boundless Mentorship will be judged by Jeanine Leane.
Jeanine Leane is a Wiradjuri writer, poet, critic, and essayist from southwest New South Wales. Her first volume of poetry, Dark Secrets After Dreaming: A.D. 1887-1961 (2010, Presspress) won the Scanlon Prize for Indigenous Poetry, 2010. She was the recipient of the University of Canberra Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Poetry Prize, and she has won the Oodgeroo Noonucal Prize for Poetry twice (2017 & 2019); and was the 2019 recipient of the Red Room Poetry Fellowship for her project called Voicing the Unsettled Space: Rewriting the Colonial Mythscape. Her most recent work, Gawimarra, gathering was published by the University of Queensland Press in 2024.
Read more about Jeanine here.
Previous Winners
Lenora Thaker, recipient of the 2021 Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship, whose novel The Pearl of Shantytown will be published by Text in 2024, says:
‘Being awarded the 2021 Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship gave me a confidence boost and enabled me to take my writing to the next level. As an emerging Indigenous writer, having a First Nations mentor the calibre of Julie Janson really helped me develop my writing and understand the business of writing in a way that’s been culturally safe and supportive. Along with the support of Writing NSW and Text Publishing, I feel that I am finally on the road to success.’
Judi Morison, recipient of the 2022 Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship, says:
‘Winning the Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship has refocused my commitment to exploring the ongoing social issues with which my work deals. The prospect of working with, and learning from, the remarkable Larissa Behrendt, with added support from Text Publishing and Writing NSW, has made the writing journey less solitary and inspired me to ask more of myself as a writer.’
Tara June Winch, inaugural Boundless judge and mentor, says:
‘The opportunity to work with a master is not only significant for the emerging writer, but also for the mentoring author. The process they undergo is as old and sacred as our culture, the handing down of the skills and tools needed to one day be passed down again and again. Being able to teach and to learn in such a close and guided fellowship is a once-in-a-career moment.’
The mentorship is open to emerging Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander writers who are permanent residents of Australia. Applicants must be over the age of 18. Confirmation of Indigenous status may be requested.
We thank the First Nations Australia Writers Network (FNAWN) and Booktopia for their support of the Boundless Mentorship.
See more information about past mentees:
Kalem Murray (2024)
Edoardo Crismani (2023)
Judi Morison (2022)
Lenora Thaker (2021)
John Morrissey (2020)
Allanah Hunt (2019)
Read about the Boundless Festival of Indigenous and culturally diverse writers, presented by Writing NSW every two years.
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