About the program

The Overland Writer’s Residency, supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund, is an initiative aimed at addressing a lack of opportunities for under-represented writers. Following the success of Overland’s inaugural Writer’s Residency in 2016, this year’s residency will be open to First Nations writers at any stage of their writing career.

The 2017 Overland Writers Residency aims to provide a platform for an Indigenous writer to focus on their craft by providing the successful applicant with space, time and financial assistance to develop their writing career. They will also receive a mentorship with award-winning writer and poet Ellen van Neerven. The Resident will have the opportunity to meet with Ellen once a fortnight over the three-month period, receiving detailed feedback at the beginning and conclusion of the residency. The Resident will also receive a stipend of $500 weekly ($6,000 in total).

The Residency will take place at the Overland office, situated on Victoria University’s bright and diverse Footscray campus. The Resident will have flexible use of a private, accessible, lockable office with a computer, desk, filing cabinets, meeting table, bookshelves and a whiteboard. They will also have access to a shared kitchen, library, phone, and printing and scanning facilities.

Included in the Residency

– 24-hour access to a lockable office, including computer, for the three-month Residency

– $500 per week stipend for 12 weeks

– Mentorship with local writer Ellen van Neerven

Not included in the Residency

Unfortunately, we do not have funding to also offer accommodation or travel costs as part of the 2017 Residency. Applicants will need to be living in Melbourne, or temporarily residing here, for the duration of the 2017 Residency.

Who can apply?

Applicants for the 2017 Residency should be writers who identify as Indigenous or First Nations (early-career applicants are preferred).

Applicants should be working on a book-length writing project (or equivalent) in any form, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art/graphic, screenwriting, experimental etc.

If you have any queries about your eligibility, or your project, please contact overland@vu.edu.au.

How to apply

Please read the entry conditions (below) to confirm eligibility.

Applications will be accepted through Submittable and should include:

• up to 500 words about how the Residency would help you in your particular circumstances
• a short synopsis of your current project (of up to 300 words)
• a chapter (or equivalent extract) from your current work-in-progress.

Applications close 11:59 pm, Sunday 24 Sep 2017. All applications are confidential.

Overland subscribers should submit through this portal. Non-subscribers should submit through this portal.

Entry conditions

The Residency recipient will be announced in early October.

1. The successful applicant will receive a three-month residency at Overland’s offices in Footscray, Melbourne, Victoria; a stipend of $500.00 per week ($6,000.00 in total); and a mentorship with writer and poet Ellen Van Neerven
2. Applicants for this residency should be working on a book-length writing project (or equivalent).
3. Applicants must identify as Indigenous or First Nations.
4. Submissions will be processed electronically. Applications should be formatted at 1.5 line spacing and a minimum of 12-point font size.
5. There is no application fee for this Residency.
6. The closing date for applications is 11:59 pm, Sunday 24 Sep 2017. Late entries will not be accepted.
7. A panel of Overland editors and writers will decide on the successful applicant. The judges’ decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.