Affirm Press Mentorship Award
Melbourne-based independent publisher Affirm Press is dedicated to publishing great Australian stories and building relationships with emerging local writers.
The Affirm Press Mentorship Award provides a unique opportunity for three or four writers to develop exceptional new work through editorial feedback during a week in residence at Varuna.
The week of intensive residency includes independent writing time in your own private writing studio, accommodation and meals. Affirm Press editors live with the writers at Varuna and meet with each writer at the beginning and end of the week to discuss their projects, as well as providing manuscript feedback and meetings with writers throughout the week as necessary. Evenings offer the opportunity to meet with other writers and the Affirm Press editors over dinner to chat about publishing and writing.
After the residency, Affirm Press will keep in touch, offering further feedback as you develop your manuscript to a completed or reworked draft. It is important for applicants to note that this program does not come with a guarantee of publication.
Key Dates
Applications will open at 5pm on August 15, 2022 and close at 10am AEDT on October 4, 2022.
Applicants must be available to attend the residency week which will take place from March 27 – April 3, 2023.
What you need to send us
You will need to send us between 7,000 and 10,000 words from the beginning of your manuscript, along with a synopsis of the entire work.
What is Affirm Press looking for?
Affirm Press is looking for Australia’s next big page-turner. Our Varuna mentorship this year will focus on writing in the crime, thriller and suspense genres, helping writers to hone the pacing, plotting and characterisation essential for an unputdownable read.
Submissions of works outside this description will not be accepted.
Fees
There is a fee of $65 per application, unless you are a financially current alumni member using your annual fee waiver. If you have a Healthcare card, the application fee is $35. Application fees are used to pay professional assessors to read your work.
If you are successful, you will be asked to make a contribution of $385 towards your residency and you will need to meet your own travel expenses to and from Varuna. If you have a Healthcare card, you may apply to the Varuna Travel Assistance Fund for a subsidy of up to $300.
The Fine Print
Affirm Press recipients and mentors 2019