Publish your book Manuscript Development program

Have you got a half-finished manuscript tucked away in a drawer? Or perhaps you've written the next paramormal romance set to rival Laurell K. Hamilton? Well finish them and dust them off, because there is an amazing opportunity coming your way!

Now that Orbit, one of the leading publishers of SF, has set up camp in Australia we are looking for talented writers of speculative fiction. To unearth these unknowns Orbit, in conjunction with the Queensland Writers' Centre, is announcing an exciting new manuscript development program. Ten people from around Australia will be given the opportunity to take part in a 5 day writers' retreat with industry professionals - so click on the attachment to read the application details, and then get writing!

Orbit/Queensland Writers Centre

Manuscript Development program

for Speculative Fiction Authors

Hachette Livre Australia and Queensland Writers Centre are proud to announce an exciting new national program for speculative fiction novelists.

Who will benefit?
This program has been created for emerging Australian authors of science fiction or fantasy novels who are either unpublished or have no more than one significant work commercially published.

What is the program?
Up to 10 emerging writers of science fiction or fantasy novels will work with Bernadette Foley, publisher of Hachette Livre Australias Orbit imprint, and senior editor Deonie Fiford, to develop high-quality fiction manuscripts.

The program will run for five days. In that time, participants will consult with Bernadette Foley and Deonie Fiford, hear about the publishing industry from professionals such as literary agents, booksellers and established authors, and work on their manuscripts. The program will run at a retreat location in southeast Queensland in May 2008.

Participants will need to arrange for their own travel to and from the retreat and pay $250 towards food and board.

Selection Process
Applicants must send the first 50 pages of their manuscript, plus a one page synopsis. Submissions must be in the speculative fiction genre (science fiction and fantasy) and must be the applicants own original work.

Each application will be considered by a panel of experienced readers from within the publishing industry who will recommend a shortlist. From the shortlist, 10 manuscripts will be selected in consultation with the Orbit publisher and editor. Applicants must be ready to send their full completed manuscripts upon selection for the program.

How do I apply?
The program is open to applicants Australia-wide who are Australian citizens or permanently resident in Australia. There is a $50 application fee per submission.

For full guidelines and application forms, contact Queensland Writers Centre on 07 3839 1243 or download from www.qwc.asn.au.

Deadlines
Applications open in early December 2007.

The deadline for submission is 23 January 2008.

The manuscript development retreat will run in southeast Queensland in May 2008.

This program is a partnership initiative of Hachette Livre Australia and Queensland Writers Centre. Supported by Arts Queensland and promotional partner Fantastic Queensland Inc.