Writing NSW is pleased to announce the winner of the 2025 Novel Next Steps scholarship is Lucinda Davies. The scholarship will provide Lucinda with support to develop their novel-in-progress, a fantasy novel that explores the flaws of Arthurian stories.

Lucinda will receive a subsidised place in Writing NSW’s year-long novel writing course, Year of the Novel. She will also be provided with space to write, and a one-year Writing NSW membership presented by Writing NSW with the support of Bruce McCabe.

Awarded annually, the Writing NSW Novel Next Steps scholarship is for writers under 30. It provides greater access to a young writer who may not have the financial means to cover the full price of Year of the Novel.

Lucinda Davies is a young emerging Australian writer whose primary genre is fantasy. Her first published work was printed in 2017 by Penguin Random House in partnership with the Storyfactory Novella program. Although Lucinda does face challenges due to learning disabilities, she has never let it stop her from achieving her goals, like writing a novel. Lucinda then went back the Storyfactory as a volunteer, working with them in their various workshops and programs. Recently Lucinda was a part of the Parramatta Profiles Project commissioned by the Powerhouse Museum. She is currently undertaking a Master of Research with the University of Western Sydney.