News

L to R (Top): Jumaana Abdu, Jose da Costa, Josie/Jocelyn Deane, Monikka Eliah, Tristen Harwood. (Bottom): Brooke Maddison, Luke Patterson, Micaela Sahhar, Mykaela Saunders, Anne-Marie Te Whiu

Announcing the Next Chapter 2021 recipients

The Wheeler Centre in partnership with the Aesop Foundation is delighted to announce the 10 recipients of The Next Chapter 2021 writers’ scheme.

Top: L-R. Maria Tumarkin, Mirandi Riwoe, Maxine Beneba Clarke, Evelyn Araluen, Sarah Howell. Bottom: L-R. Anna Krien, Kristina Olsson, Bruce Pascoe, Claire Christian, Shane Maloney.

Announcing the Wheeler Centre’s 2021 Next Chapter mentors

The Wheeler Centre announces the mentors who will work with The Next Chapter's second cohort of writers over the next 12 months.

Promo image for Penguin Random House acquires Ennis Cehic's debut satirical fiction collection

Penguin Random House acquires Ennis Cehic’s debut satirical fiction collection  /  Publishing & editing

Penguin Random House will publish SADVERTISING – the debut collection of satirical short stories by 2018 The Next Chapter recipient Ennis Cehic – in early 2022. We spoke with Cehic – and with Penguin Random House publisher Justin Ractliffe – about the news.

Promo image for Your questions answered, in our live Q&A

Your questions answered, in our live Q&A  /  Awards & prizes

Are you working on your application? Planning to nominate an emerging writer? In a live-streamed Q&A, the Wheeler Centre's Veronica Sullivan and Sophie Black answered your questions about applying for The Next Chapter.

Promo image for Sam Elkin: 'I would encourage anybody out there to chuck in an application and see what happens'

Sam Elkin: ‘I would encourage anybody out there to chuck in an application and see what happens'

2019 Next Chapter recipient Sam Elkin shares their experience of applying for the scheme and encourages others to do so this year.

Promo image for Dan Hogan: 'I really feel like I've developed as a writer in a fairly short amount of time'

Dan Hogan: ‘I really feel like I’ve developed as a writer in a fairly short amount of time'

2019 Next Chapter recipient Dan Hogan discusses how being mentored as part of the scheme has helped their writing.

Promo image for UQP acquires Evelyn Araluen's debut poetry collection

UQP acquires Evelyn Araluen’s debut poetry collection  /  Books, reading & writing

University of Queensland Press has recently announced the acquisition of Evelyn Araluen’s debut poetry collection, Dropbear. 

Promo image for The Next Chapter at Emerging Writers' Festival 2020

The Next Chapter at Emerging Writers’ Festival 2020  /  Books, reading & writing

To celebrate the first two years of The Next Chapter, we're presenting two digital events at this year's Emerging Writers’ Festival.

Promo image for Watch: An introduction to The Next Chapter, and a guide to applying

Watch: An introduction to The Next Chapter, and a guide to applying

Guest post by Sophie Black and Jon Tjhia

In this short video, Sophie Black and Jon Tjhia explain what The Next Chapter is, what it's for – and how to put together your application.

Promo image for UQP acquires Adam Thompson's debut short fiction collection

UQP acquires Adam Thompson’s debut short fiction collection  /  Australian stories

Late last week, University of Queensland Press announced that it had acquired the rights to publish Born Into This – the debut collection of short stories by 2018 The Next Chapter recipient Adam Thompson. We spoke with Thompson – and with UQP publisher Aviva Tuffield – about the…

Promo image for Announcing our 2020 Next Chapter mentors

Announcing our 2020 Next Chapter mentors

The Wheeler Centre announces the mentors who will work with The Next Chapter's second cohort of writers over the next 12 months.

Promo image for Melissa Lucashenko: 'I thought it was a program that was actually going to make change'

Melissa Lucashenko: ‘I thought it was a program that was actually going to make change'

Guest post by Melissa Lucashenko

2018 Next Chapter mentor Melissa Lucashenko discusses why she became involved with the scheme.

Promo image for Lian Low: 'The opportunity to go through professional development ... is amazing'

Lian Low: ‘The opportunity to go through professional development … is amazing'

Guest post by Lian Low

2018 Next Chapter recipient Lian Low discusses how the scheme has helped her writing through access to professional development programs and workshops.

Promo image for Yamiko Marama: 'It's been really helpful to have a mentor'

Yamiko Marama: ‘It’s been really helpful to have a mentor'

2018 Next Chapter recipient Yamiko Marama discusses the challenges of a writing career and how the scheme has helped.

Promo image for Adrian Stanley: 'The informal support as well as the formal support's been really good'

Adrian Stanley: ‘The informal support as well as the formal support’s been really good'

2018 Next Chapter recipient Adrian Stanley discusses his experience of the scheme.

Promo image for Rebecca Lim: 'Don't be afraid to have your story out there'

Rebecca Lim: ‘Don’t be afraid to have your story out there'  /  Books, reading & writing

Guest post by Rebecca Lim

2018 Next Chapter mentor Rebecca Lim encourages anyone interested to apply for the scheme.

Promo image for Evelyn Araluen: 'We've got a lot to resolve about our national identity'

Evelyn Araluen: ‘We’ve got a lot to resolve about our national identity'  /  Books, reading & writing

Guest post by Evelyn Araluen

2018 Next Chapter recipient Evelyn Araluen discusses the need for a wider diversity of voices in developing Australia's literary culture.

Promo image for Nick Earls: 'It's also good when mentoring includes the business side'

Nick Earls: ‘It’s also good when mentoring includes the business side'  /  New & emerging writers

Guest post by Nick Earls

Nick Earls discusses why he agreed to become a mentor as part of The Next Chapter writers' scheme.

Promo image for Announcing The Next Chapter mentors

Announcing The Next Chapter mentors  /  Awards & prizes

The Wheeler Centre announces the ten mentors who will work with The Next Chapter's first cohort of writers over the next 12 months.

Promo image for Shaun Tan: 'Self-doubt, I think many creators would agree, is hard to overcome'

Shaun Tan: ‘Self-doubt, I think many creators would agree, is hard to overcome'

Guest post by Shaun Tan

Artist, writer and filmmaker Shaun Tan shares a couple of thoughts on self-doubt, and its place in a writer's work.

Promo image for Andrew McDonald: 'Good writing is about a book that puts forward a kernel of truth'

Andrew McDonald: ‘Good writing is about a book that puts forward a kernel of truth'  /  Books, reading & writing

Guest post by Andrew McDonald

Author Andrew McDonald on the importance of truth in writing.

Promo image for Jess Walton: 'Some people are writing in whatever gaps in their day or their week or their month that they can find'

Jess Walton: ‘Some people are writing in whatever gaps in their day or their week or their month that they can find'  /  Books, reading & writing

Guest post by Jessica Walton

Picture book author, teacher, parent, daughter of a trans parent, and proud queer disabled woman Jess Walton on the support new writers need in developing a major work.

Promo image for Jamila Rizvi: 'Finding the time and space to write is really, really difficult'

Jamila Rizvi: ‘Finding the time and space to write is really, really difficult'  /  Books, reading & writing

Guest post by Jamila Rizvi

Author, presenter and political commentator Jamila Rizvi on the importance of finding the time to develop a larger piece of work.

Promo image for Melanie Cheng: 'Once writing had become part of my routine, I was hooked'

Melanie Cheng: ‘Once writing had become part of my routine, I was hooked'  /  Work

Guest post by Melanie Cheng

Writer and general practitioner Melanie Cheng reflects on her dual professional lives – and on finally giving herself permission to write.

Promo image for Candy Bowers: 'There are these little explosions that start happening'

Candy Bowers: ‘There are these little explosions that start happening'  /  Diversity

Guest post by Candy Bowers

Candy Bowers talks about the changing nature of representation in Australian literature.

Promo image for Santilla Chingaipe: 'The strongest work comes from development'

Santilla Chingaipe: ‘The strongest work comes from development'  /  Work

Guest post by Santilla Chingaipe

Santilla Chingaipe on the importance of time for development in producing a major work.

Promo image for Sami Shah: 'Everyone wants to know my story as a non-fiction piece'

Sami Shah: ‘Everyone wants to know my story as a non-fiction piece'

Guest post by Sami Shah

Sami Shah discusses barriers to diversity when writing fiction in Australia.

Promo image for Toni Jordan: 'It's an exercise in holding your nerve'

Toni Jordan: ‘It’s an exercise in holding your nerve'

Guest post by Toni Jordan

Toni Jordan discusses the value of mentorship – particularly in getting through publishing your first major work.

Promo image for Quinn Eades: 'Writers need to write'

Quinn Eades: ‘Writers need to write'

Guest post by Quinn Eades

Quinn Eades is a researcher, writer, and poet whose work is published nationally and internationally, and is the author of all the beginnings: a queer autobiography of the body, and Rallying. He shares some thoughts about what he's learned about writing, getting published and how Australian literary culture has…

Promo image for Yassmin Abdel-Magied: 'We are certainly a land of storytellers'

Yassmin Abdel-Magied: ‘We are certainly a land of storytellers'

Guest post by Yassmin Abdel-Magied

Sudanese-born mechanical engineer, social advocate, writer and petrol head Yassmin Abdel-Magied reflects on how we might do justice to Australia's long history of storytelling.

Promo image for Announcing The Next Chapter: an unprecedented new way of supporting writers

Announcing The Next Chapter: an unprecedented new way of supporting writers

The Wheeler Centre announces The Next Chapter, an unprecedented new way of supporting writers. Entries open Friday 4 May – Friday 13 July 2018.