Tips for getting published and finding a literary agent
19 January 2022
Sydney based literary agent Jacinta Di Mase talks with Dani Vee and Adrian Beck on the Publishing Insider podcast, and shares tips and advice to prospective authors for finding a literary agent, and getting work published.
RELATED CONTENT
2022 Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) Awards
19 January 2022
Nominations are open for the 2022 Australian Book Industry Awards ABIA Awards, until Monday 14 February 2022. With a wide range of award categories, it looks like publishers and authors will have little difficulty finding a slot for their work:
- General Fiction Book of the Year
- General Non-Fiction Book of the Year
- Literary Fiction Book of the Year
- Illustrated Book of the Year
- Biography of the Year
- Picture Book of the Year (ages 0-6)
- Book of the Year for Younger Children (ages 7-12)
- Book of the Year for Older Children (ages 13+)
- The Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year
- Small Publishers’ Adult Book of the Year
- Small Publishers’ Children’s Book of the Year
- International Book of the Year
The longlist will announced on Tuesday 22 March, the shortlist on Monday 23 May, with the winners named on Thursday 9 June 2022.
RELATED CONTENT
Australian writing, literature
2022 Hazel Rowley Fellowship shortlist announced
17 January 2022
The shortlist for the 2022 Hazel Rowley Fellowship has been published. Created in memory of late British born Australian writer and biographer Hazel Rowley, the fellowship supports Australian writers of biographies. Authors submit ideas to the organisers, who select what they consider to be the best proposal. This year though, the field seems particularly tight:
We had an extremely strong field of applications this year, with a wide range of biographical subjects. This made the shortlisting hard,’ said Della Rowley, Hazel’s sister. ‘We received a large number of high-quality proposals. Perhaps as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns, writers were busy thinking about good topics for biographies.
The winner will be announced on Wednesday 2 March 2022.
RELATED CONTENT
Australian writing, biographies, Hazel Rowley, literature
A list of books being published by women of colour in 2022
17 January 2022
A list of sixty-two books written by women of colour, put together by South-Korean born American author R.O. Kwon, for inclusion on your to-be-read list for 2022.
RELATED CONTENT
The gift you can gift the most difficult person to gift
17 January 2022
A gift for people who have everything? Could well be. Sydney based writer Ashley Kalagian Blunt, has a suggestion. What’s one thing we like talking about, apart from ourselves? Our favourite story. If someone took the time to read a book you especially like, and then sat down with you for an hour or so to discuss it, wouldn’t that be enjoyable? It doesn’t have to be a book though. A movie or an album also works. I think it’s true, experiences make the best presents.
RELATED CONTENT
Faber Writing Academy 2022 scholarships
17 January 2022
Applications for the Faber Writing Academy 2022 scholarships are open for authors of non-fiction works. On offer are courses taking writers through the process of planning and writing a manuscript, and pitching their idea to a publisher or literary agent. Applications close on Saturday 29 January 2022.
RELATED CONTENT
The Northman, a film by Robert Eggers
14 January 2022
The Northman, trailer, the latest feature from American filmmaker Robert Eggers, is a dark, brooding affair, set in tenth century Iceland. There’s some star power here, the cast includes Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke, Alexander Skarsgård, Willem Dafoe, and Björk. Eggers has a penchant for horror themed stories, and while it doesn’t look like there’s too much bump in the night stuff, there’s gore aplenty.
RELATED CONTENT
Sydney Muslim Writers’ Festival 2022
14 January 2022
The inaugural Sydney Muslim Writers’ Festival takes place over three days, with an opening night on Thursday 3 February 2022, a festival day on Saturday 12 February, and writing workshops on Sunday 13 February. Follow the Festival’s Instagram page for more information.
RELATED CONTENT
2022 black&write! Writing Fellowships
14 January 2022
Applications are open for the 2022 black&write! Writing Fellowships, an initiative to support the work of First Nations writers across Australia. Two fellowships are awarded annually, and are accompanied by a cash prize, assistance with developing a manuscript, and an opportunity to publish work with Hachette Australia. Applications close on Wednesday 2 February 2022.
RELATED CONTENT
Australian writing, Indigenous literature, literature
Warning: book clubs may be a threat to your life
14 January 2022
Killing Katie: Confessions Of A Book Club, the debut play of late Sydney based Australian scriptwriter Tracey Trinder, takes theatre goers into the sometimes murky world of book clubs. Think book clubs are groups of likeminded novel aficionados, happily swapping notes about their latest reads? Think again.
Trinder’s play lifts the lid on bitter internal politics, feuding, and murder, after the straight talking, bold Katie, joins a readers group convened by Robyn. Unhappy with Katie’s unseemly exuberance, Robyn plots to remove her from the club, with unforeseen dire consequences.
RELATED CONTENT