If you’ve recently completed one of the library’s writing workshops, you might be wondering what steps to take next to further develop your work or get your writing ‘out there’.
There is a wealth of writing opportunities for Australian writers – a quick Google search will yield results. You can also contact your state writers centre for a more definitive list.
In the meantime, below is a list of prizes and opportunities specifically for disabled writers.
Prizes
The Dickinson Memorial Literary Competition is open to Australian residents who are legally blind, the competition has six categories including adult short story, senior student and junior student creative category and a people’s choice category.
Visit The Braille House for more information. Braille House.org.au
Telescope writing awards is open annually for writers with a disability over 12 years of age.
Visit Freedom2live.com.au for all the info.
The Jennifer Burbidge Short Story Award welcomes short stories of fiction or non-fiction up to 3000 words on the theme of disability.
Visit the Williamstown Literary Festival: willylitfest.org.au
The Liz Navratil Award celebrates the best short story with a disabled protagonist. It is part of Sisters In Crime – a society for women crime writers - Scarlett Stiletto annual short story awards.
Visit Sisters in Crime.org.au
Writing Programs
Writers Victoria’s Writeability program aims to remove some of the barriers that have traditionally prevented people with disability from connecting with writing and publishing. It provides tools and information to support people with disability who want to tell their own stories in their own way.
Visit Writers Victoria.org.au
Queensland Writers Centre -Accessible Writing aims to create opportunities for NDIS participants over the age of 16 years to connect with professional writing mentors, exploring creative expression and social engagement through writing.
Visit the Queensland Writers Centre: queenslandwriters.org
Penguin Books Australia Write It Fellowship aspires to find, nurture and develop unpublished writers across all genres with a focus on under-represented sections of our community. This includes such as writers from socio-economically marginalised backgrounds, LGBTQIA+, First Nations, CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) or writers with a disability.
Visit Penguin Australia: penguin.com.au
The Richard Llewyllen Deaf and Disability Grants has four categories for South Australian writers. Richard Llewellyn acquired severe disability when he was 20 years old.
He approached this new way of life as an adventure, beginning a series of small businesses, including running Llewellyn Galleries, in Dulwich and North Adelaide, which promoted local artists.
In the late 1970s, he formed a self-help group of people with disability in Adelaide and went on to serve on many national and State bodies, advocating for new policies, infrastructure and services to improve people’s lives. He was the Disability Adviser to the Premier of South Australia for seven years and later worked as a disability access consultant.
Richard had a passion for South Australia, the arts and people with disability. The Richard Llewellyn Deaf and Disability Grants continue to support the values for which he worked and lived.
Visit Richard Llewellen.net.au
Accessible Arts next level creative mentorships provide six (6) artists with access to a mentorship within a leading performing arts organisation and $3000 in project funding to develop an innovative new project. Writers, musicians, dancers, choreographers, actors, directors and/or producers with disability or who are d/Deaf from NSW are invited to apply.
Visit Accessible Arts: aarts.net.au
Not a member of the library? The Vision Australia Library is a free national public library for anyone who is blind, has low vision or a print disability. Join the library today!