Marahuyo awarded 2024 Writing NSW Varuna Fellowship

Writing NSW has awarded its 2024 Varuna fellowship to J Marahuyo for her poetry manuscript ‘Disclosure of Violence’.

‘Disclosure of Violence’ was described by the judges as a ‘deeply affecting collection of poems with immense emotional resonance’. ‘The poet possesses an immediate and idiosyncratic voice. Lines are drawn and dissolved between self, family, community and diaspora; language becomes both weapon and salve; poetic form both holds space for and erupts with these bold disclosures.’

Marahuyo said: ‘I feel beyond ecstatic and so grateful to Writing NSW and the judges for connecting with my work. I cannot wait to stew in creativity at Varuna to work on my poetry project and embrace the change of pace, a quiet, nature abundant environment filled with other passionate writers. I’m looking forward to the focus and momentum this residency will grant.’

Marahuyo is a neurodivergent Filipino-Australian poet residing on Dharug country. Her writing explores themes of identity, mental health and the power of vulnerability, and can be found in Cordite, FemAsia and Gems zine, as well as numerous print and digital anthologies. Marahuyo was previously awarded an online residency at Varuna for her debut work, ‘4:37am; crying gorgeously’, which will be released in early 2025 by WestWords Books. She also won the 2024 Living Stories Western Sydney Writing Prize and was shortlisted for the 2024 Newcastle Poetry Prize.

The annual Writing NSW Varuna Fellowship is awarded to a Writing NSW member who has ‘a work that is ready for the next stage of development’. Marahuyo will receive a week-long residency at Varuna, the National Writers’ House as well as a manuscript assessment from a publishing house.

Two runners-up were also announced. Kimberley Knight was acknowledged for ‘Body of Communication’, and Adrian Mouhajer for ‘Fighting to Fit in’. Runners-up each receive a year’s membership to Writing NSW and entry to a short writing course of their choice.

This year’s judges were author and journalist Kavita Bedford, Pantera publisher Tom Langshaw, and author and Writing NSW program manager Katherine Pollock.

Last year’s winner was Alison Martin for her novel manuscript ‘The Wild’.

More information about the fellowship is available on the Writing NSW website.

Category: Local news