> Skip to content

News  •  1 June 2021

 

Write It Fellowship recipients 2021

We're delighted to announce the recipients of the 2021 Write It Fellowship.

The recipients were selected from a shortlist of talented writers, who were invited to a panel interview with the Write It team at Penguin Random House (PRH) as well as Bilal Hafda, an experienced creative writing teacher and spoken-word-artist from Story Factory. Hafda offered invaluable counsel and broadened the scope of the application process.

On the experience, Hafda commented, ‘This entire process has been genuine and thought-provoking, and we have been absolutely spoiled for choice. The writers we've met and spoken to (and the authors of all the work we've read) have important, powerful voices, and it’s been an honour to get to hear them.’

From the 121 entries submitted for the fellowship, we are thrilled to reveal that the four recipients are:

Erin Riley – Wrestling With Feelings
‘I am extraordinarily grateful to be one of the people offered a Write It fellowship. Making the shortlist was a gigantic thrill in itself and a real validation of my writing. To be mentored, supported and nurtured as a new writer over the next year is an invaluable opportunity and one I am so excited about. As an emerging writer – a trans and queer writer – stumbling across the call out for applications for Write It, a fellowship with the aim of opening up space for writers like me, left me no choice but to try my luck. I am grateful that such opportunities exist.’

Gwen Luscombe – A Peacock Slumber
‘I feel so grateful to have been selected for this exciting opportunity and be included among some talented writers with incredible stories to tell. A Peacock Slumber has been a project I've been passionate about for nearly a decade. The Write It team have already been so gracious with their feedback along the journey; I'm genuinely looking forward to having the dedicated time and support to make the most of this experience.’

Lyn Dickens – Intertidal
‘I am incredibly thrilled to be a 2021 Write It Fellow with Penguin Random House Australia. I respect and value the ethos behind the Write It Fellowship and its commitment to working with diverse voices, and I am very honoured to be a part of that process. It has already been a tremendous experience to be able to discuss my writing in-depth with members of PRHA, and I look forward to working with an editor over the course of the fellowship.’

Melanie Saward – Barks and the City
‘Everything about the Write It Fellowship process so far has been affirming and rewarding – particularly the interview process. How wonderful it is to just sit and yarn about your work with people who are genuinely interested in what you have to say. I am incredibly grateful to the team at Penguin Random House for selecting me for the fellowship and I cannot wait to get started.’

As part of the fellowship, each recipient will be mentored by editors at PRH. They will also be invited to the PRH offices in Sydney to meet and talk with our departments, to learn more about the various facets of publishing and what goes in to pitching, acquiring, editing, marketing, publicising and selling a book.

The Write It Fellowship program will continue to engage a new talent pool of writers who have both diverse and important stories to tell, and are representative of the society in which we live. The fellowship aspires to find, nurture and develop unpublished writers across all genres, with a focus on under-represented sections of our community.

More features

See all
News
Anam named winner of the 2024 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Fiction

Congratulations to author André Dao on this incredible honour.

News
Write It Fellowship recipients 2023

We're delighted to announce the recipients of the 2023 Write It Fellowship.

News
Write It Fellowship 2023 now open

Applications for the 2023 Write It Fellowship are now closed.

News
2022 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award shortlist announced

Here Goes Nothing by Steve Totlz has been awarded the $1,000 Alex Buzo Shortlist Prize.

News
2022 Booker Prize shortlist announced

The shortlist for the 2022 Booker Prize has been announced, with two Penguin Random House novels named this year.

News
2022 Davitt Awards winners announced

The Davitt Awards recognise Australian women crime writers. See the Penguin Random House book that won this year.

News
2022 Ned Kelly Awards Winners Announced

The Ned Kelly Awards recognise and celebrate the very best crime writing has to offer. See which Penguin Random House books won this year.

News
2022 Davitt Awards shortlist announced

The Davitt Awards recognise Australian women crime writers. See which books made the shortlist this year.

Article
Award-winning and shortlisted books of 2024

Discover some of the best Penguin Random House books of 2024 with this list of award-winning and shortlisted titles this year.

Article
Penguin Random House is now publishing three Write It authors

Learn about the Write It Fellowship and the three authors that Penguin Random House Australia is publishing from the program.

Article
Award-winning and shortlisted books of 2022

Discover the best Penguin Random House books of 2022 with this list of award-winning and shortlisted titles this year.

Article
A useful guide to reading Elizabeth Strout’s Lucy Barton books

Learn about Elizabeth Strout's Lucy Barton books in honour of her new book, Tell Me Everything. Learn more about the series and the order in which we recommend reading the five books.

Looking for more news?

See all news
penguin pop image
penguin pop image