Matilda Bookshop, in partnership with Writers SA, and association with Ultimo Press, are offering an annual residency fellowship to a South Australian writer. The fellowship provides support (time, writing space and mentoring) to work on a writing project of literary merit. As there are currently no SA residency fellowships offered to SA writers, the fellowship aims to remedy a gap in the literary community. Applications will be assessed by Writers SA staff, with the shortlist judged by Writers SA and Matilda Bookshop. Ultimo Press will provide consultation and manuscript assessment to the recipient.

Residency information brochure (PDF)

The residency is for one week (seven nights) and includes the following:

• A travel/living subsidy of $500. Writers living in remote areas may be eligible for a higher subsidy.
• One week’s accommodation at Grass Tree Gully in Deep Creek for uninterrupted writing time. Breakfast and lunch will be provided daily, but please note that the food provided is for the resident fellow only.
• A one-and-a-half-hour mentorship session with author and experienced mentor, Pip Williams, a week ahead of the residency (either in-person or online), with a follow-up session at either one-month or three-months after the residency, as decided by the writer and the needs of their project. The mentor will have read the submission material, including outline/synopsis, ahead of the mentoring session.  Follow-up mentoring session in 2024 is a creative check-in, and will not involve a full manuscript assessment.
• An initial one-hour phone consultation with Ultimo Press, after reading submission material, followed by a full manuscript assessment and further one-hour consultation on delivery of finished work.

How to apply:

Applications will open Wednesday February 1st 2023, and must be submitted to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/deepcreekres by 11:59pm Saturday 1 April 2023. The successful recipients will be notified by June 30 2023.

The week-long residency will take place October 16-23, 2023. There is no application fee, and no program fees apply. Regional writers may apply for a higher travel/living subsidy at the time of application and will depend on the location they are travelling from.

Selection Criteria:

Applications will be considered according to:

• the impact of the opportunity on the writer,
• the ambition and potential of the project, and
• the quality of the support material.
• The residency is open to both emerging and established writers

To apply:

Please follow this link where you can also upload your documents.

• your contact details.
• a brief, relevant bio (max. 150 words).
• a statement addressing how the opportunity will benefit you (max. 250 words).
• a summary/outline/synopsis of your proposed project to be undertaken during the Deep Creek residency (max. 1 page). (Please note, we are only accepting submissions of full length adult literary fiction, memoir, biography, autobiography, poetry collections and narrative non-fiction).
• artistic support material (one chapter of manuscript, or twenty pages of writing if still in early development stage. Please outline the connection of the support material to your proposed project).
• please advise what stage of your development the manuscript/project is at. For example, completed first draft, ideas generating phase, editing polished manuscript.

Terms and conditions

By entering this application process, you agree to the following terms and conditions:

1.  You must be a writer with a work in progress (the submission can be in early stages of development, but we want to see that you have a viable and dynamic project in mind).

2. You must be a South Australian resident for at least 12 months.

3. You must be 18 years or older.

4. You must be able to take up the residency between October 16 and 23, 2023, and if circumstances beyond your control prevent you from attending during this time, you must notify Writers SA of this immediately so another applicant can be offered the fellowship.

5. The successful applicant will need to make their own way to and from the residency at Grass Tree Gully in Deep Creek, South Australia.

6. The final recipient will be chosen at the discretion of Writers SA and Matilda Bookshop. The decision will be final, and no discussion will be entered into with applicants. Previous applicants may reapply with the same or a different literary project. Previous winners can not reapply even if the project is new.

Additional Information

The house is reasonably accessible however the property is mostly rugged terrain. Please contact [email protected] if you need to discuss any accessibility queries or options in relation to the residency.

Undertaking the residency is not a guarantee of publication. Ultimo Press will consider the final manuscript at their discretion.

From 2022’s inaugural recipient, Corrie Hosking

“First and foremost, heartfelt appreciation to Matilda Bookshop, Writers SA, Ultimo Press, Hannah Kent and Grass Tree Gully. What an exceptional gift to have launched this exhilarating opportunity for South Australian Writers. The kind warmth and insightful feedback I have been provided has been exceptional.
It has been a long time since I have published, but over the past years I have returned to creative practice as a matter of personal urgency.

“I was never sure this project would amount to anything—so to have the recognition of this Residency Fellowship has been an overwhelming boost. It offers me permission to immerse in a process of refinement—perhaps realising a potential novel out of a dishevelled draft. Coincidentally, the country around Deep Creek features in this writing—what a most perfect environment to visit, to better nurture this work.

“I am thrilled that The Deep Creek Residency Fellowship is again being offered. It is so important to support the promise of South Australian voices, rendering our stories. I wholeheartedly recommend those interested apply!”