The Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship is a joint initiative between Text Publishing and Writing NSW. It is awarded to an unpublished Indigenous writer who has made substantial progress on a fiction or non-fiction writing project. The purpose of the program is to discover and nurture a powerful new Indigenous voice in Australian literature and to support the writer as they develop their manuscript and seek publication.
The Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship is currently open for applications, closing on Sunday 26 November 2023. All of the details can be found here.
The recipient of the year-long mentorship will be paired with a senior Indigenous writer working in the same genre, who will provide feedback on their manuscript and professional advice. They will also receive professional development from Text Publishing and Writing NSW.
The 2023 mentorship, judged by acclaimed author Jane Harrison, alongside representatives from Text Publishing and Writing NSW, was won by Edoardo Crismani for his fast-paced story Finding Billy Brown. You can read about the winning manuscript here.
Crismani will be mentored by Wiradjuri writer Tara June Winch, the Miles Franklin Literary Award–winning author of The Yield.
‘When I found out I was being awarded the Boundless Indigenous Writers Mentorship for my novel Finding Billy Brown, I was excited for the opportunity to work with a mentor to polish the mechanics of the story, and also daunted to receive feedback from a publisher, but I can't wait to get started and see what the process brings! Thanks to Writing NSW and Text for making it happen!’
— Edoardo Crismani
The Boundless Mentorship was launched in 2018 and was welcomed by the Indigenous writing community. Submissions were received from all over the country.
Mentorships are an important link in First Nations writing. Either through informal or formal structures, writers gain skills and knowledge of their craft but also of the industry. For First Nations writers, mentoring by their peers can bring literary knowledge but also a cultural perspective in keeping our stories strong without losing the essence of the story.
— Cathy Craigie, founding Director of the First Nations Australia Writers Network
Allanah Hunt was the winner of the inaugural Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship for her submission Forever and Ever. She was mentored by author Tara June Winch. You can read more about Allanah’s winning submission and the 2019 shortlist here.
The Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship is an outcome of Boundless – the festival of Indigenous and culturally diverse writers.
For more information, including the opening date for submissions, please stay connected to Text and Writing NSW’s socials. All enquiries about the mentorship should be directed to Writing NSW.
