Time and space for writers to write.

APPLICATIONS form

Fishbowl Residency

Rolling applications open.

Have a daunting project but no support? Queensland Writers Centre’s Fishbowl Residency provides the writing space, mentorship and assistance for one lucky writer to complete a draft of their work. Over this ten-week residency, the successful resident works from our offices and shares their progress with our members. Applications are accepted all year round and are exclusively open to applications from members of Queensland Writers Centre.

Read about the experiences of past Fishbowl residents Lara Cain Gray and Katherine Wasiel in articles from WQ magazine.

Apply now for a Fishbowl residency.

Terms & Conditions

• Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent Australian residents who currently reside in Australia.

• Applications are open to current financial members of Queensland Writers Centre. Successful applicants' memberships will be maintained during their residency. Applicants may take advantage of a discounted membership in their application.

• Queensland Writers Centre’s Fishbowl Residency is a competitive program, with applicants assessed by Queensland Writers Centre staff and committee members. All applicants will be personally notified of the outcome of their application. No further correspondence will be entered into regarding unsuccessful applications.

• Multiple applications in one submission period are allowed, but must be limited to one writing project per application. Applications will not be carried forward to future rounds, but applicants may re-apply in the future with the same project.

• Queensland Writers Centre does not own the work of successful applicants, nor does it hold the rights to produce the work.

• Successful applicants must be able to commence residency within 3 months of successful application.

• Successful applicants for the Fishbowl Residency will be asked to sign a Fishbowl Residency Agreement with Queensland Writers Centre. The Agreement outlines the deliverables required by the author, including detailed availability for completion of the residency, plus a short bio, short article and professional headshot for promotional reasons.

APPLICATION FORM

Queensland Writers Centre Varuna Fellowships

Applications open annually. 2024 applications open 12 February - 5 March 2024.

Each year, Queensland Writers Centre offers the following Varuna residential fellowships:

• The Queensland Writers Centre Established Writers Fellowship is open to established writers with at least one publication.

• The Queensland Writers Centre Underrepresented Writers Fellowship is open to established or emerging writers from underrepresented groups (self-identified).

Each Fellowship includes a two-week residency at Varuna, with full board and accommodation including a prepared evening meal, uninterrupted time to write in your own private studio, a one-hour mentoring session with a writing consultant, and the companionship of your fellow writers. The recipients will also receive support for reasonable travel costs.

Applications are free however you must be a current financial member of Queensland Writers Centre to apply. Applicants who are not members of Queensland Writers Centre can apply for membership as part of their application.

View the application form. For more information or assistance with your application, contact us at admin@qldwriters.org.au or call the Centre on (07) 3842 9922.

Recipients

2023
The recipients of the Queensland Writers Centre Varuna Fellowships in 2023 were Kristina Olsson (Established Writers Fellowship), Nadia Mahjouri and Nadia Johansen (Underrepresented Writers Fellowship). Find out more.

2022
The inaugural recipients of the Queensland Writers Centre Varuna Fellowships in 2022 were Balli Jaswal (Underrepresented Writers Fellowship) and Richard Yaxley (Established Writers Fellowship). Find out more.

Terms & Conditions

• Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent Australian residents who currently reside in Australia; applicants must be aged 18+.

• Applicants must provide a copy of all materials and information required in the Application Form, including a project plan and writing sample.

• Applications are open to current financial members of Queensland Writers Centre. Successful applicants' memberships will be maintained during their residency.

• This is a competitive program, with applicants assessed by Queensland Writers Centre staff and an independent panel of industry professionals. All applicants will be personally notified of the outcome of their application prior to public announcements. No further correspondence will be entered into regarding unsuccessful applications.

• Queensland Writers Centre does not own the work of successful applicants, nor does it hold the rights to produce the work.

• Successful applicants must be able to commence residency within 12 months of successful application.

• Successful applicants will be asked to sign a Residency Agreement with Queensland Writers Centre. The Agreement outlines the deliverables required by the author, including detailed availability for completion of the residency, plus a short bio, short article and professional headshot for promotional reasons.

APPLICATIONS FORM

The Flinthart Residency

Opens annually, each June. 2023 applications open 29 May - 27 June.

The Flinthart residency was established in 2020 thanks to the generosity of the late Aiki Flinthart, a passionate Queensland Writers Centre member and successful independent author.

Awarded annually and exclusively offered to members, this residency opportunity gives the successful applicant the chance to spend 10 weeks working full-time on their next project, from a dedicated space in the Queensland Writers Centre offices in the State Library of Queensland. The residency also includes a stipend, and mentorship with a matched industry professional to support development of the work.

In the spirit of Aiki’s wishes, greatest consideration will be given to applications from writers working or hoping to work in the space of self-publishing and indie publishing. Members may also consider making an application to Queensland Writers Centre's Fishbowl Residency, which is open for submissions year round.

Apply now.

Terms & Conditions

• Applicants must be Australian citizens, or permanent Australian residents who currently reside in Australia.

• Applications are open only to current financial members of Queensland Writers Centre. Successful applicants' memberships will be maintained during their residency.

• Queensland Writers Centre’s Flinthart Residency is a competitive program, with applicants assessed by Queensland Writers Centre staff and committee members. Applications may be judged by an external panel.

• Multiple applications in one submission period are allowed, but must be limited to one writing project per application. Applications will not be carried forward to future rounds, but applicants may re-apply in the future with the same project.

• Queensland Writers Centre does not own the work of successful applicants, nor does it hold the rights to produce the work.

• Successful applicants will be notified in August. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application.

• Successful applicants must be able to commence residency within 3 months of successful application. Full stipend payment and provision of full mentorship allocation will be dependent upon project completion.

• Successful applicants for the Flinthart Residency will be required to sign a Queensland Writers Centre Residency Agreement. The Agreement outlines the deliverables required by the author, including:

  • detailed availability for completion of the residency

  • short bio

  • short article about the residency experience

  • professional headshot.

• Unsuccessful applicants may be offered a place in Queensland Writers Centre’s Fishbowl residency program.