Congratulations to the inaugural recipients of The Next Chapter writers’ scheme. Presented by the Wheeler Centre with support from the Aēsop Foundation, The Next Chapter awards $15,000 prize money and industry mentorship to a new generation of writers who reflect the diversity of Australian identities and experiences, giving them the time and space to craft a voice and a career. You can read the full list of ten recipients and four highly-commended writers here.
We were particularly delighted to see so many KYD contributors among this year’s recipients! To celebrate their achievement and give you a taste of their work, all KYD pieces from recipients and highly-commended entrants are now unlocked for a limited time!
- Jean Bachoura’s funny and moving memoir feature on his experience crossing the border from Lebanon into Syria
- Ennis Cehic’s stunning 2017 photo essay on Sarajevo, its trams and the sorrow etched into the faces of commuters
- Lian Low’s memoir of her adolescence in Kuala Lumpur and commentary on what it means to become an Australian citizen
- Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen on representing and protecting your family when writing memoir
- Ara Sarafian’s humorous rumination on waxing, shaving and the importance of being hairy
- Adam Thompson’s short story ‘Honey’ from our recent Tasmania Showcase
- Fiona Murphy on hearing aids and the problem with trying to ‘fix’ disabilities
- Bobuq Sayed on the performance of allyship
Congratulations to these and all other recipients – we can’t wait to see what the future holds for you!