Year of the Novel Scholarships 2026

Your Name*

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I wish to apply for the following scholarship:*

Submission Requirements*

I am Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait IslanderI confirm that I will be aged 18 or over as at 1 January 2026.I confirm that I am a resident of NSW.I confirm that I have read and accept the Terms and Conditions.

Submission Requirements*

I am culturally and linguistically diverse. (Per Create NSW, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse is a term used to describe people who speak a language other than English (LOTE), also referred to as people from non-English backgrounds (NESB).)I confirm that I will be aged 18 or over as at 1 January 2026.I confirm that I am a resident of NSW.I confirm that I have read and accept the Terms and Conditions.

Submission Requirements*

I confirm that I will be aged 18 or over as at 1 January 2026.I confirm that I will be under the age of 30 as at 1 January 2026.I confirm that I am a resident of NSW.I confirm that I have read and accept the Terms and Conditions.

I wish to attend the following stream of Year of the Novel*

STATEMENT OF ACCESS AND IMPACT (33%) Provide a short statement explaining how or why writing courses like this have previously been inaccessible to you, and how receiving this scholarship would benefit your writing practice and career development. Maximum 300 words.*

0/300

WRITING EXPERIENCE (33%) Provide a brief overview of your previous writing experience, such as any courses, publications, awards, or other creative projects you have completed. This section is about showing your commitment to your craft and your engagement with writing so far. (Please note that prior publication or formal study is not required.) Maximum 100 words.*

0/100

NOVEL OUTLINE (33%) The successful applicant should come to the first class with a specific work-in-progress or idea for a novel. Share a brief outline of the novel idea you would like to develop during the Year of the Novel 2026. The work may be at an early stage or already underway, but you should be ready to commence focused development through the program. Maximum 100 words.*

0/100

1. Eligibility

Applicants must be aged 18 years or over as at 1 January 2026.
Applicants must be residents of New South Wales.
Applicants must have an idea for a novel they would like to develop during the Year of the Novel program. The novel may be at an early stage or already commenced, but applicants should be ready to begin focused work on the project at the start of the program.
These scholarships are intended specifically for writers working on a novel-length work of fiction. Other forms of writing (such as poetry, short stories, plays, or non-fiction) are not eligible.
Applicants must apply for the scholarship category for which they are eligible:
- First Nations Scholarship – for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander writers.
- CaLD Scholarship – for writers from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse background.
- Young Writer Scholarship – for writers under 30 years of age as of 1 January 2026.
Writing NSW staff and Board members are not eligible to apply.

2. Scholarship Inclusions

Each scholarship provides a fully funded place in the 2026 Year of the Novel program.
The winner of each scholarship may choose either:
- Year of the Novel (In-person) with Ashley Kalagian Blunt, held at Writing NSW, Callan Park, Sydney, OR
- Year of the Novel (Online) with Amy Lovat, held via Zoom and the Writing NSW online learning platform.
If the winner selects the in-person course, they are responsible for all travel, transport, and accommodation costs.
The two streams are separate, and it is not possible to switch between in-person and online once enrolled.

3. Submission Requirements

Applications must include all required materials as outlined in the application form.
Submitted material must be the applicant’s own original work and written in English.
AI-generated material is not permitted.
Incomplete, late, or non-compliant applications will not be considered.

4. Assessment and Judging

Applications will be assessed by judges appointed by Writing NSW.
The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
No individual feedback will be provided to applicants.

5. Conditions of Participation

Participation in the program does not guarantee publication of any work produced.
Scholarship recipients agree to:
- Participate fully in the program.
- Support Writing NSW promotional activities, including provision of quotes, interviews, or testimonials for publicity and reporting purposes.

6. Privacy and Communications

By applying, you consent to your details being added to the Writing NSW marketing database. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Personal information will be handled in accordance with Writing NSW’s Privacy Policy.

7. General

Applications close at 11.59pm (AEDT) on Sunday, 12 October 2025.
By submitting an application, you agree to these Terms and Conditions.

Year of the Novel Scholarships 2026

Your Details

Scholarship Details

Submission Guidelines

Terms & Conditions