Something to write home about -Sri Lankan Writing Residency now open for applications

MELBOURNE, Australia - June 9, 2015 - PRLog -- Applications are open from Wednesday 9 June till Monday 6 July.  Now in its third year, the fellowship will send an Australia writer to Templeberg Villa in Galle in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka for two- to four-weeks to work on a writing project.

“We are delighted to once again partner with Writers Victoria and offer this fellowship to inspire, and foster creativity across the two countries we call home. We are looking to consider a diverse range of original, imaginative applicants and find a recipient who will benefit from being in Sri Lanka.” said Christopher Shields co-owner of Templeberg Villa.

This year we are also pleased to introduce our first corporate partner, Cinnamon Air, the premier air taxi service in Sri Lanka. The 2015 Fellow will transfer domestically on one of Cinnamon Airs scheduled flights between Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo and Koggala.

“Cinnamon Air gives passengers a unique aerial experience, showcasing the diverse and stunning scenery Sri Lanka has to offer,” said Shields.

The fellowship will be judged by acclaimed Sri Lankan-based author Royston Ellis, Victorian writer Michelle Wright (2013 Templeberg Fellow), Canberra-based writer Lucy Nelson (2014 Templeberg Fellow), and the co-owners of Templeberg Villa, Brent Carey and Christopher Shields.

Royston Ellis is the author of over 60 published books (guides, novels, biographies and volumes of poetry). Originally from England, Royston was the British representative of the Beat Generation. His seminal book, ‘The Beat Scene’, was first published in 1961. Royston has been living in Sri Lanka since 1980 and was appointed the Warden of southern Sri Lanka for the British High Commission in 2003. He also writes travel features for inflight, international and Sri Lankan magazines.

Michelle Wright is lives in Eltham, Victoria and writes short stories and flash fiction. Her stories have won The Age, Alan Marshall, Grace Marion Wilson, Orlando and Magic Oxygen Short Story Awards, and she has come second in the Bridport Prize, Overland VU Prize, Folio Journal and Orlando Flash Fiction Awards. Her collection of short stories, Fine, was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for an unpublished manuscript written while in Sri Lanka as the 2013 Templeberg Fellow.

Lucy Nelson is co-director of Canberra’s experimental writers festival. Her reviews and feature articles appear regularly in the Canberra Times and the Big Issue. She has published and performed personal essays and short fiction and is currently working on her first manuscript.

The Fellowship will cover one economy return airfare from Melbourne to Colombo in Sri Lanka, a 30-day tourist visa, internal transfer costs, accommodation, full board (all meals) and an A$1,000 spending allowance.

Applications are invited from emerging and established writers who have been engaged for a minimum of two years in the fields of journalism, creative writing (fiction and non-fiction, performing arts or poetry) or online communications (like blogging).  “Writers in Australia are so fortunate to have opportunities like this one and I’m incredibly grateful to have been considered,” Nelson said.

Fellowship should be used to develop and prepare a new or existing work for publication. Applications must be submitted online by Monday 06, July 2015.


MEDIA CONTACTS

Christopher Shields, Templeberg Villa  61481 014 474

Kate Larsen, Writers Victoria   613 9094 7836