Australian Short Story Festival announces new mentorship opportunity

The Australian Short Story Festival has announced a new opportunity for an emerging Australian writer to complete a three-month mentorship with award-winning Irish short story writer and playwright Paul McVeigh, along with a $5000 cash prize, with the mentorship to begin in October 2023.

The winning writer will work remotely with McVeigh to develop three short stories during the final three months of 2023. McVeigh’s debut novel, The Good Son (Salt), won the Polari First Novel Prize and the McCrea Literary Award, and his short stories have also appeared in many anthologies and publications.

With support from the festival and an Australian Government Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) grant, this opportunity is open to Australian citizens and permanent residents who have not published a full-length collection. Entries close on 25 August. Further information is available at the Australian Short Story Festival website.

The festival has also launched its 2023 program, with Cate Kennedy, Tony Birch, Laura Jean McKay, Mirandi Riwoe and Carol Lefevre among the attendees, as well as international guests Robin McLean and Allen C Jones. The 2023 Australian Short Story Festival will take place in Adelaide on 9–12 November 2023.

Category: Awards Local news