Through the ambitious, innovative and wide-reaching Next Chapter scheme, the Wheeler Centre has devoted itself to making it easier to be an Australian writer with a story to tell.
This scheme is about giving writers time and space to craft a voice and a career – offering them support from mentors and peers, and the opportunity to experiment and develop their writing. It’s also about investing time and expertise in writers who reflect the diversity of Australian identities and experiences, and offering opportunities to writers from marginalised communities.
Each year, the Wheeler Centre picks ten outstanding writers and give them $15,000 each to develop their work. We match them with a mentor, and work closely with them on bringing their writing to life, connecting them with other writers, publishers, booksellers and readers – and guiding and training them through that experience. And we follow and support them and their work through their career, with initiatives that help publishers, booksellers and readers alike to join us in supporting these Australian stories.
This is for the stories that aren’t being told, the voices we’re not hearing, and the ideas that need patience, care and work to introduce to the world.
Applications for 2019 are now open until 5pm Friday 12 July. And remember, you can have someone nominate you, too.