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black&write! Writing Fellowships
2024 shortlist announced!
Scroll down to see our six shortlisted writers.
Each year black&write! offers two Fellowships for First Nations writers, awarded through an unpublished manuscript competition open to any Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writer currently living in Australia.
Two writers will each receive $15,000 prize money, editorial development with the black&write! team, and a publication opportunity with Hachette Australia.
The black&write! Fellowship recipients will be announced on Tuesday 14 May at State Library of Queensland. Book your free spot in the audience here.
Skye Cusack (Vic) for 'The Dangers of Just One Person'
Skye is an emerging Dulgubarra-Yidinji creative writer living in Naarm. But this doesn’t mean that she’s new to writing – in fact, she’s been a copywriter for over eleven years. You may find her at various open mic nights performing yarns that will make you laugh, cry and wonder why she’s admitting these things in front of a live audience.
'The Dangers of Just One Person' is a young adult fiction novel.
Meleika Gesa-Fatafehi (Qld) for 'To Clear Your Throat of Fish'
Meleika, also known as Vika Mana, is a proud sovereign storyteller; they are from the Zagareb and Dauareb tribes of Mer Island in what is colonially known as the Torres Strait, from the village of Fahefa in Tonga, Bsharri in Lebanon and many other places that extend to different continents and bloodlines. They write, rap and perform many worlds into existence whilst also telling the truth of this place in each story.
'To Clear Your Throat of Fish' is a poetry collection.
Matt Gall (Qld) for 'Daemon in the Garden'
Matt is a pakana man from lutruwita, living and working in Turrbul and Yuggera Country in Queensland. Matt has led a varied life, both personally and professionally; from mechanic to naturopath to IT professional, and from pillar of the church community to renegade apostate. Matt is always looking for ways to raise the profile of First Nations People. Matt's goal in writing is to explore truth through fiction
'Daemon in the Garden' is an adult fiction novel.
Maree Yoelu (NT) for 'Tangled Words in Ghost Nets'
Maree Yoelu is a proud Wadjiginy woman, living in Darwin, on Larrakia country. Maree is a children’s author and an all-round creative, who loves to dabble in poetry, song and photography. Her other love and passion is her language – Batjamalh, which she weaves into her writing at every opportunity.
'Tangled Words in Ghost Nets' is a poetry collection.
Lulu Houdini (NSW) for 'ma-li'
Lulu Houdini is a Gamilaroi poet and midwife. Lulu’s work explores invisibility, memory, resistance, and liminality. Her poetry has been published by Meanjin, Overland, Red Room Poetry and Wakefield Press, with her debut poetry collection being shortlisted for the 2023 David Unaipon Award. Lulu currently creates and lives with Jerrinja, Wandi Wandandian Country.
'ma-li' is a poetry collection.
Mariah Sweetman (Qld) for 'Black and White'
Mariah Sweetman is a proud Ugarapul writer. She is passionate about First Nations histories and engaging young people with stories. She loves to create with words and paint. Her first novel, Robert Runs, was inspired by her great-great-grandfather’s childhood and it was published in 2023. She lives on Gubbi Gubbi Country with her family and golden retriever.
'Black and White' is an adult fiction novel.
black&write! is supported by the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund and the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body. We are proud to work with Hachette Australia as the black&write! Fellowship publishing partner.
