Tracy Sorenson Emerging/Early Career Writers Residency

Bathurst Writers’ & Readers’ Festival & Arts OutWest are proud to announce the Tracy Sorenson Emerging/Early Career Writers Residency to honour the life of our friend & colleague, Tracy.

Tracy Sorenson was an author, an activist, a teacher, a filmmaker, journalist, crafter and academic. Tracy was originally from Canarvan in WA and came to Bathurst in 2003. Sadly, Tracy passed away in Bathurst in May 2025. Tracys debut novel, The Lucky Galah (Picador, 2018), was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award. It was shortlisted for the 2019 Russell Prize for Humour Writing, the UST Glenda Adams Award for New Writing (NSW Premier’s Literary Awards), the Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction 2018 and longlisted for the Indie Book Award for Debut Fiction 2019 and the Dublin Literary Award 2020. Her second novel, The Vitals, was published by Picador/Pan Macmillan in 2023. Both novels played with giving voice to non-humans: The Lucky Galah is narrated by a pink and grey galah, and The Vitals is narrated by a middle-aged woman’s abdominal organs.

About The Vitals other authors wrote:

“The most original book about cancer ever written.” – Nick Horne.

“Tracy Sorensen writes and thinks like nobody else. We’re so lucky to have her.” Tegan Bennett Daylight.

Most importantly Tracy was generous, thoughtful, joyous and creative.

 

THE RESIDENCY

The Tracy Sorensen Emerging/Early Career Writers Residency supports emerging and early-career writers of adult fiction to develop new work, engage with regional communities, and build professional practice in a culturally safe and supportive environment.

The writer will undertake a writing residency of 10 – 14 days in the Bathurst region, NSW. The writer will receive a stipend of $2500 (to cover travel & all expenses while undertaking the residency) and accommodation. The writer will also participate in at least one public engagement activity.

See terms and conditions and FAQ below for details and requirements.

 

WHO CAN APPLY

We welcome applications from writers who:

• Identify as emerging/early career
• Have a clear project they wish to develop
• Are interested in engaging with regional culture, landscape, or community
• Can commit to the full residency period of 10 days to 14 days

Writers from regional NSW and Aboriginal writers are strongly encouraged to apply

 

CLOSING DATE

Applications for 2027

Open: 23 October 2026

Close: 5pm Friday 20 November 2026

 

TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. Purpose of the Residency

The Tracy Sorensen Emerging/Early Career Writers Residency supports emerging and early-career writers of adult fiction to develop new work, engage with regional communities, and build professional practice in a culturally safe and supportive environment.

For the development of new works of adult fiction (Romance/Romantasy/Fantasy/Graphic novels are accepted).

Emerging/early career writers: May have had ONE full-length work of fiction published.

2. Eligibility

To be eligible applicants must:

• Identify as an emerging writer or early career writer in adult fiction (any genre)
• Be aged 18+
• Be an Australian resident
• Demonstrate a commitment to developing a specific writing project
• Have had not more than 1 book published, but maybe working on a new manuscript (not contracted)
• Available for a period of 10 – 14 days to undertake the residency.

Priority may be given to writers from regional NSW, Aboriginal writers, or writers whose work engages with regional themes.

3. Residency Inclusions

The residency provides:

• A stipend of $2500 (to cover travel & all expenses while undertaking the residency)
• Accommodation and/or studio space for 10 – 14 days, the residency period in the Bathurst region. (Approx Value $1000) There are a number of accommodation options. Please see FAQs
• A Festival pass to attend the Bathurst Writers’ & Readers’ Festival in the year of the residency.
• Access to local networks, partners, and community engagement opportunities
• Promotion through Arts OutWest channels
• Optional professional development support (e.g., mentoring, introductions)

4. Artist Responsibilities

The selected writer agrees to:

• Undertake the proposed writing project during the residency
• Participate in at least one public engagement activity (e.g., reading, workshop, talk as part of the Bathurst Writers’ & Readers’ Festival)
• Provide a short-written reflection (800-1500 words) and 3–5 images documenting the residency
• Acknowledge the residency partners in all public outcomes
• Respect cultural protocols and community expectations
• Follow all site-specific safety and operational requirements

5. Intellectual & Cultural Property

• The writer retains copyright in all work created during the residency.
• If the work draws on Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP), the writer must follow Arts OutWest’s ICIP protocols and obtain appropriate permissions.
• AOW & partners may use residency documentation for non-commercial promotional and reporting purposes, with credit to the writer.

6. Use of AI Technologies

The residency is intended to support and celebrate the individual creative voice of writers. Accordingly, all submitted material must be authored solely by the applicant and must not include text generated or substantially composed by artificial intelligence technologies. Applications containing AI-generated content will not be considered.

By applying, applicants confirm that the work is entirely their own.

7. Payment

· The stipend is paid in two installments:

• 50% upon signing the residency agreement
• 50% time of attendance.

· Writers must provide an invoice for each installment.

8. Health, Safety & Insurance

• Writers are responsible for their own insurance (public liability, personal accident, equipment).
• Writers must comply with all WHS requirements of the residency site.
• Any incidents must be reported to Arts OutWest immediately.

9. Changes, Cancellation & Termination

Arts OutWest may amend or cancel the residency due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g., site access issues, safety concerns). The residency may be terminated if the writer:

• Breaches cultural safety or ICIP protocols
• Engages in unsafe or inappropriate behaviour, including hate speech.(see 10)
• Fails to meet agreed obligations

Payment adjustments will be negotiated in good faith.

10. Hate speech

All writers in residence are free to share their political views publicly and will not have their opportunities impacted by those views.

However, we will not tolerate hate speech: the vilification, humiliation, or incitement of hatred against a class of person based on class, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, national origin, race, religion, sexual identity or skin colour.

If the resident engages in hate speech, we reserve the right to terminate or cancel the residency.

11. Confidentiality

Both parties agree to maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive information, community knowledge, and internal program details.

12. No late applications accepted

Late applications to the program will not be accepted.

13. Selection/Judges

The selection of the resident will be made by a panel, including members of the programming panel of the Bathurst Writers’ & Readers’ Festival and industry peers. The shortlisted applicants will then undertake an interview, and final selection will be made based on the outcome from this process. The decision of the panel will be final.