Languages other than English (LOTE) publishing initiative - literature

The Languages other than English (LOTE) publishing initative supports the translation and publication of works by authors writing in languages other than English.

Closing date: 26 September 2008
Decisions advised: October 2008
Projects may start: 1 November 2008

About this initiative

The literature board will accept proposals from Australian publishers who wish to translate into English and publish the work of living Australian authors who write in languages other than English. Publishers may apply for assistance with writer's and translator's fees and some production costs. The LOTE Publishing Initiative is intended to encourage partnerships between writers, translators and publishers and to introduce the work of LOTE writers to a wider Australian readership.

Who is eligible to apply?

This initiative is open to Australian publishers who are registered with the literature board.

To register, publishers must be legally constituted as an organisation, have previously published at least five titles (not necessarily literary), at least two of which must have been published in the two years prior to application. Publishers must also have works commercially available for sale with effective national promotion and distribution systems. Publishers who receive payment from writers to publish their works are not eligible for registration.

Applicants must meet the general eligibility requirements.

About the projects

Proposals will be accepted in the following genres only:

Fiction
Literary non-fiction (defined by the board as autobiography, biography, essays, histories, literary criticism or analytical prose)
Children's literature
Poetry
Writing for performance or new media.

Publishers wishing to publish an anthology of LOTE writing must contact literature staff prior to submitting a proposal.

The board will consider proposals for the translation and publication of both new works and those that have been published in their original language by professional publishers within the last five years.

Only those works by living Australian writers who have achieved one of the following publication/performance requirements will be considered:

At least one full-length work published (including works of young adult literature or junior fiction over 30,000 words) or at least one full-length work performed
At least five children's books published (up to 30,000 words).

The nominated writer must be an Australian citizen or have permanent resident status in Australia. The nominated translator does not have to be an Australian citizen or reside in Australia.

Publishers must print at least 500 copies of a work of fiction or non-fiction and 250 copies of a playscript or work of poetry. Titles must have national distribution, ie, they must be distributed in every state and territory. Publishers are not eligible to apply for assistance to fund publication of their own written work.

How much can you apply for?

Up to $15,000 per title towards full-length works of fiction and non-fiction allocated as follows: $7,000 for the writer, $5,000 for the publisher and $3,000 for the translator
Up to $10,000 per title towards playscripts and works of poetry (including collected and selected editions) allocated as follows: $5,000 for the writer, $2,500 for the publisher and $2,500 for the translator.

What are the selection criteria?

Applications must demonstrate:

Literary merit, including the writer and translator involved
Evidence of the organisation's thorough planning and ability to carry out the proposal to a high standard.