Apply

THE WRITING ZONE is an extraordinary opportunity for twelve Western Sydney writers aged 18-30. It’s a chance to join a community of the most exciting young writers in the West, and to work together to develop your writing. Your work will be published in two print anthologies and you’ll take part in readings and performances. You’ll get to know other writers and you’ll be mentored by some of Australia’s best authors.

THE WRITING ZONE is an eight-month program of mentorship, writing,  editing, performance, and publication. From August, we’ll hold a series of fortnightly online and in-person writing workshops. These will give participants a chance to work together, and with author mentors, to develop new writing. Regular workshops are followed by a two-day intensive Writing Circle, scheduled for 28 and 29 October 2022. This involves sessions with mentors, writing seminars, readings, and shared performances.

Our Writing Circle will be a face-to-face conference-style event in Parramatta City. We’ll produce and launch a chapbook of short pieces by all program participants, drawn from our writers’ application materials or early workshop drafts. The 2022 program will wrap with publication and a launch in mid-2023 of an anthology of new writing by all 2022 TWZ writers. The launch party is a chance to share with our communities & families the wonderful writing developed through the program.

THE WRITING ZONE is for the diverse communities of Western Sydney. It’s designed to help young writers from the West tell your stories, polish your craft and build a creative community together. This program is open to all Western Sydney writers aged 18-30 (whether school students, uni students or writers who aren’t students at all). Two places in TWZ are prioritised annually for First Nations writers. All applicants can be published or unpublished.

How to apply

Applications for our 2022 program are closed.