Writing NSW is pleased to announce the winner of the 2024 Varuna Fellowship is J Marahuyo. J’s work, Disclosure of Violence, was described by the judges as a “deeply affecting collection of poems with immense emotional resonance. The poet possesses an immediate and idiosyncratic voice. Lines are drawn and dissolved between self, family, community and diaspora; language becomes both weapon and salve; poetic form both holds space for and erupts with these bold disclosures.”
J will receive a week’s residential stay at Varuna to develop her work further and connect with fellow writers. She will also receive a manuscript assessment from a publishing house.
J said of her win: “I feel beyond ecstatic and so grateful to Writing NSW and the judges for connecting with my work. I cannot wait to stew in creativity at Varuna to work on my poetry project and embrace the change of pace, a quiet, nature abundant environment filled with other passionate writers. I’m looking forward to the focus and momentum this residency will grant.”
The judges also awarded runners-up awards to Kimberley Knight for Body of Communication, and Adrian Mouhajer for Fighting to Fit In. Kimberley and Adrian will both receive a year’s membership to Writing NSW and entry to a short writing course of their choice.
The judges this year were author and journalist Kavita Bedford, publisher at Pantera Press Tom Langshaw, and author and Program Manager at Writing NSW Katharine Pollock.
The judges were very impressed by the high number and standard of the entries across a broad range of genres. The difficulty of their task was evidenced by their awarding of a second runners-up award. They hope all entrants continue to submit their work to competitions and to enjoy the process of arranging their work
Awarded annually, the Writing NSW Varuna Fellowships are for members of Writing NSW who have a work that is ready for the next stage of development.
J Marahuyo is a neurodivergent Filipino-Australian award winning poet residing on Dharug country. She explores themes of identity, mental health and the power of vulnerability; her debut collection will be released early 2025 by WestWords Books. Her words are celebrated and published nationally and internationally and can be found in Cordite, FemAsia and Gems Zine as well as numerous print and digital anthologies. She won Living Stories Western Sydney Writing Prize 2024 and was shortlisted for the Newcastle Poetry Prize 2024. When she’s not writing you can find her pspsp-ing random cats, eating cookies or getting on the wrong train. Her instagram is @j_marahuyo