New work - literature

New work grants assist in the creation of new work by emerging, developing and established Australian writers and picture book illustrators.

Closing date: 15 May 2008
Decisions advised: October 2008
Projects may start: 1 November 2008

About this category

New work funding is available for living allowances and/or assistance with travel and research costs associated with the preparation and writing of nominated projects.

Applications will be accepted in the following genres only:

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

See ‘important information’ for a list of specific activities that are not funded through this category.

Who is eligible to apply?

This category is open to individuals only. To be eligible, you must meet the general eligibility requirements.

The following individuals are not eligible to apply to this category:

• Recipients of a new work or skills and arts development grant awarded in 2007
• Recipients of a two-year established writers grant awarded in 2005, 2006 or 2007
  
• Recipients of a fellowship awarded in 2005, 2006 or 2007.

Applicants who apply for a new work grant may not apply for a residency or fellowship in the same year.

Applications to write in languages other than English are not eligible under this category.  Support for writers who are writing in languages other than English is provided through the Languages other than English (LOTE) publishing initiative.

If you are successful in applying to the breaking new ground initiative, and you have also made an application to this new work round, your new work application will be automatically withdrawn.

Previous work written in genres that the literature board does not assist will not be accepted as evidence of eligibility or as support material.

Self-funded publications are only accepted as evidence of eligibility if the applicant can provide evidence of national distribution and at least one substantial review of the work in an established literary journal or general national magazine or major newspaper.

To apply for a new work grant, you must demonstrate that you have achieved the minimum publication/performance requirements outlined in the relevant sub-category below by the closing date for applications. You may apply to only one of the following sub-categories and for only one of the grant amounts specified.

Emerging writers/illustrators

Amount: $5000, $10,000 or $15,000.

Apply under this sub-category if you have achieved any of the following publication/performance requirements:

• 10 short works of fiction or literary non-fiction in professional literary journals, anthologies, general national magazines or major newspapers
• 10 prose pieces professionally performed
• 25 different poems in professional literary journals, anthologies, general national magazines or major newspapers
• 25 different poems professionally performed
• 15 different substantial articles (minimum of 1000 words each) in general national magazines or major newspapers
• Two playscripts workshopped or one short play performed under the auspices of a professional company or organisation
• Two substantial scripts (minimum 15 minutes of original text per script) or six short scripts (minimum three minutes of original text per script) broadcast on radio
• Four children’s picture books or works of junior fiction (up to 30,000 words) published by a professional publisher with national distribution
• A combination of the above (such as five short stories and 13 poems).

The literature board accepts online publication where the journal:

• Uses an editorial review process and has a named editor or editorial committee, none of whom is the author
• Is freely available to the public and/or has a hard copy edition.

Applicants must supply the website address and a copy of the submission guidelines of the publication, along with the name and contact details of an editor.

Developing writers/illustrators

Amount: $10,000, $15,000 or $25,000.

Apply under this sub-category if you have achieved any of the following publication/performance requirements:

• At least one but not more than two full-length literary works published (including works of young adult literature or junior fiction over 30,000 words); or at least one and not more than three full-length works performed
• At least five but not more than seven children’s books published (up to 30,000 words).

Established writers/illustrators

Amount: $20,000 or $30,000 per year for up to two years.

Apply under this sub-category if you have achieved any of the following publication/performance requirements:

• Three or more full-length literary works published (including works of young adult literature or junior fiction over 30,000 words); or four or more full-length literary works performed
• Eight or more children’s books (under 30,000 words) published. 

The works described in the developing and established sub-categories must have been published by professional publishers with effective national distribution or performed/produced by professional theatre companies or radio stations. Additional requirements apply to self-funded publications.

What are the selection criteria?

Applications must demonstrate:

• The creative substance of the project
• An ability to engage the reader/intended audience as demonstrated by support material
• Literary merit, understood to encompass an assessment of the applicant’s writing ability, focusing on style, appropriateness of form, skilled use of language, clarity of expression and sustained development of themes or ideas as evidenced by the supplied support material.

What should you submit?

You must submit the required support material in addition to the application form.

Important information

If you are not sure if you are eligible to apply for funding, please contact Australia Council staff before submitting your application.

The literature board does not assist in the creation of film and television scripts; textbooks and other works created for primary, secondary and tertiary educational purposes; newsletters; books which are primarily works of interviews; local and oral histories; military studies; instruction manuals; how-to books; academic theses or course work; bibliographies; dictionaries; encyclopaedias; professional reference titles; guide books; catalogues; personal growth, lifestyle and hobby books; or works of physical or natural sciences, theology, psychology, cooking, medicine or law.

The translation of literary work is not an eligible project under new work.