New Work - Literature

Closing date: 17 May 2010
Decisions advised: September 2010
Projects may start: 1 November 2010

New work grants assist in the creation of new work by published Australian writers and picture book illustrators.

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

Writers can apply to one of two sub-categories, depending on their publication history:

• Developing writers/illustrators can apply for $15,000, $25,000 or $40,000
• Established writers/illustrators can apply for $30,000 or $50,000

Writers and illustrators who have not yet achieved the publication requirements to be eligible for this category should apply to the emerging writers’ and illustrators’ initiative, managed by the Australian Society of Authors. For more information, please visit www.asauthors.org/

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 (theatre, radio)
• Writing for new media (defined by the board as original works of a literary nature for delivery predominantly via computer, mobile phone or similar device)

Multiple and hybrid genre projects are accepted.

Works for new media will be accepted where projects display either a poetic aesthetic, a narrative structure, a developed fictive world or a sustained analysis of events of a non-fiction nature, in line with the board’s definition of literary non-fiction. Works may include audience participation, user-generated content, and/or game-play, but must have a clear and consistent story world.

Please note:

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 (including course work in creative writing); bibliographies; dictionaries; encyclopaedias; professional reference titles; guide books; catalogues; self-help, lifestyle and hobby books; or works of physical or natural sciences, theology, psychology, cooking, medicine or law.

In the case of new media applications, the literature board does not support works intended for delivery predominantly via cinema or television screen or works intended as marketing support for another work.

Funding for the production of new media works is not provided.

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

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

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

• recipients of a new work or residency grant awarded in 2009
• recipients of a two-year established writers grant awarded in 2007, 2008 or 2009
• recipients of a fellowship awarded in 2007, 2008 or 2009.

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

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.

Developing writers/illustrators

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

Writers/illustrators of children’s and young adult literature:

• at least three but not more than five literary works under 20,000 or
• at least one but not more than two literary works of over 20,000 words
• at least three but not more than five picture books.

Writers in all other genres:

• at least one but not more than two full-length literary works published or performed

Established writers/illustrators

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

Writers/Illustrators of children’s and young adult literature:

• six or more literary works under 20,000 words or
• three of more literary works over 20,000 words
• six or more picture books.

Writers in all other genres:

• three or more full-length literary works published or performed

For the purposes of eligibility, the literature board defines full-length literary works for adults in the following ways:

• Fiction and literary non-fiction of 30,000 words and over
• Poetry collections of a minimum of 36 pages
• Theatre scripts of a minimum of 50 minutes
• Radio scripts of a minimum of 25 minutes
• New media works that display a significant literary component.

Applicants are required to state the word/page length or running time as relevant to the genre of any works listed for eligibility purposes.

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

Please note:

Professional status of previous work

Listed works will be accepted as evidence of eligibility only if they have been published by a professional publisher with effective national distribution, i.e. distribution in all states and territories or via a website. Listed works for theatre and radio will be accepted where they have been produced by a professional theatre company or radio station, or presented by an established venue. Additional requirements apply to self-funded publications.

Co-written work

The literature board will accept as evidence of eligibility co-written works where an applicant has been the sole author of at least 50 per cent of the text and where that text can be precisely identified.

Self-funded publication  

Self-funded publications are only accepted as evidence of eligibility if the applicant can provide evidence of national distribution, i.e. distribution in all states and territories or via a website and at least one review of the work in an established literary journal or nationally distributed magazine or major newspaper.

Online publication 

The literature board accepts online publication as evidence of eligibility where there is a demonstrated editorial review process with a named editor or editorial committee, none of whom is the author. 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.

Translation and languages other than English

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

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.

Applications must demonstrate:

• The creative substance of the intended project
• Literary merit; assessed on grounds of writing ability, and stylistic and thematic achievement as demonstrated by support material.

You can apply online for all Australia Council grants. If you would like a hard copy application form, contact Australia Council staff on (02) 9215 9000 or 1800 226 912. Information on how support material should be supplied (either electronically or via post) is provided when you complete the online grant application.

You must provide evidence of your eligibility and all required support material by the application closing date.

You are required to submit:

• up to 10 pages of your writing/illustrative work in the genre of your project. This material can be from a variety of sources – published work, manuscripts or story boards – but cannot exceed 10 pages.

Applications that do not include support material in the genre of the nominated project will not be eligible.

Applicants applying for new media projects should bear in mind that the literature board is assessing the writing component of their application and submit scripts or other relevant texts as their required support material.

If you wish to submit as support material a sample of writing from a co-authored work, you must ensure that the sample is entirely your own work.

Resumes, reviews or general letters of reference or support should not be submitted and will not be passed on to board members. Details of significant professional awards or achievements can be included in the list of previously published work in the eligibility section of your application.

Any material supplied in addition to the required support material will not be considered in the assessment of your application. If you need assistance in determining the support material you are required to submit or when it must be submitted, please contact Australia Council staff.

Other support material can be submitted AFTER the closing date but BEFORE the board meeting.

Letters of support and/or contracts from publishers or producers that are specific to the project will be accepted up to 10 working days before the board meeting.

Some applicants may be required to submit additional support material as detailed below. This support material can be submitted after the closing date but must be submitted before the board meeting if your application is to be eligible for consideration. The date by which this support material must be received is 18 August 2010.

When proposals are submitted from organisations or individuals that involve major performing arts board (MPAB)-funded companies, a letter of agreement between the applicant and the MPAB-funded company must be provided to both the MPAB and the literature board. For further details, please contact MPAB staff directly.

In line with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts policy and its underpinning principles, the Australia Council requires that applications for projects containing representations of artistic/cultural practice or intended outcomes relating to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artists or communities must provide letters from relevant communities or artists. Letters must show clear evidence of support and agreement for the activities undertaken. In preparing your application, you may wish to consult the Indigenous protocol guides in song, performance, writing, new media and visual arts.