Queensland Writers Centre’s 2 manuscript development programs are open for applications:
The QWC/Hachette Australia Manuscript Development Program is open for emerging writers of young adult fiction, fiction, and non-fiction. Applications close Thursday 21 July 2011.
The Allen & Unwin Manuscript Development Program is for emerging writers of children’s fiction. Applications close Thursday 14 July.
Go. Read the guidelines. If you’re eligible, then please, please apply. If you’re not – please don’t argue with the nice people at QWC about it. It’s just rude. When you’re formatting your manuscript, industry standard is double-spaced, printed on a single side of the paper, and yes, it’s only 50 pages (that’s 50 SINGLE SIDED PAGES) – even if that means the story finishes mid-sentence, it’s okay. The writing of the previous pages should be sufficient. Again, don’t argue with the nice people about just adding ‘one extra page to finish the section’ – because if you think that one last sentence is going to be the thing that wins a reader over, then you may have more problems than you know.
These are not publishing deals, but they are rare and valuable opportunities to possibly get your manuscript in front of experienced editors and to get feedback that you can use to improve your work.