QWC/Hachette Australia Manuscript Development Program adds YA and nonfiction

The Queensland Writers Centre (QWC) and Hachette Australia Manuscript Development Program has broadened its submissions criteria this year, and will for the first time accept YA and general nonfiction submissions.

On the decision to include YA submissions, Hachette group publishing director Fiona Hazard said that Hachette’s head of children’s publishing, Jeanmarie Morosin, and children’s publisher Suzanne O’Sullivan are ‘determined to take the Hachette Children’s and YA list to new heights’.

Hazard said the program is ‘already seeing enormous success, with international publishing sensation Jessica Townsend and critically acclaimed Zana Fraillon.’ She said ‘the time now feels right’ to expand the program to a wider pool of writers and ‘I would encourage anyone looking to further develop their work and who wants an understanding of the publishing industry, to submit their chapters.’

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the program gives emerging writers the opportunity to develop an existing manuscript over a four-day retreat.

Up to 10 writers will be selected to take part in the program, to be held in Brisbane in February 2019. Successful applicants will work with Hachette publishers, editors and authors to refine their manuscripts. Eight writers were selected for the program in 2017.

Applications for the program are now open, closing on 17 August. Shortlists will be announced in November.

For more information, see the QWC website.

Category: Junior Local news