Our virtual writers’ residency program is back for its 5th year! Writers from UNESCO Cities of Literature writers will connect with Melbourne-based organisations to create residency outcomes, meet other writers and discover Melbourne as the vibrant and rich City of Literature it is.

Working with their host organisations, writers will deliver any three of the following (or three of just one of the following):

  • A workshop
  • A written piece
  • An appearance/panel
  • A social media takeover

As a Virtual Writer in Residence, you will be paid $1500 (AUD) and have the opportunity to connect with your fellow Virtual Writers in Residence.

Virtual Writers in Residence will work with one of the following organisations:

  • Blak & Bright is seeking a First Nations writer to connect our stories and lands with theirs.
  • Geelong Regional Libraries is looking for an emerging writer to help us diversify our offering to our community through a range of opportunities for collaboration, connection and engagement.
  • Going Down Swinging is looking for a writer of experimental, hybrid or emerging forms of storytelling who can share their creative process with its community and inspire them to find joy in their own creative risks and experiments.
  • Melbourne Writers’ Theatre is looking for an experienced playwright to share their knowledge and their culture with our community of enthusiastic playwrights.
  • Myli-My Community Library is looking for an engaging, passionate writer who is highly enthusiastic about working across a variety of age groups and genres to inspire and support creativity through writing.
  • Signal is looking for a writer connected to young people aged 14 to 25 years keen to inspire the next generation.
  • Society of Women Writers Victoria is looking for a woman writer to encourage our members in writing short form genres to tell women’s stories, historical or contemporary.
  • Sticky Institute is looking for a writer interested in working with our local zine community to transform their ideas into a narrative zine.
  • Story Studios Australia is looking for a writer/novelist who can share their creative process and confidence building techniques with our community of aspiring storytellers.
  • Writers Victoria is seeking a writer keen to engage with our diverse community of writers and help them share their stories with the broader public.

Applications close on Monday 25 August 2025, 9:00pm (AEST).

Apply to be a Virtual Writer in Residence here: Application form

You may see a blank example of the application form here.

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2024 residency outcomes can be seen below: 

  • Hosted by Moorabool Libraries, Alison Moore from Nottingham City of Literature ran two workshops with students looking at weird short stories and ‘beginnings in first lines, characterisation and setting’, wrote a short story for a local anthology by Moorabool Writers’ Craft, as well as running a writing prompts workshop with Moorabool Writers’ Craft.
  • Hosted by Boroondara Libraries, Andrew Tucker from Nottingham City of Literature ran ran an online workshop for people in Melbourne which asked people to create their own imaginary library, wrote a series about Robin Hood meeting the Australian outlaw Ned Kelly (including creating a theme tune, interviewing Robin Hood scholar Dr. Stephen Knight, and filming in an underground cave with Ezekiel Bone, Nottingham’s premier Robin Hood). 
  • Hosted by Whitehorse Manningham Libraries, Brett Hetherington from Barcelona City of Literature appeared on a panel, hosted a workshop and wrote an original piece.
  • Hosted by Society Women Writers Victoria, Gaynor Jones from Manchester City of Literature ran a workshop on flash fiction and playing with form, a talk on editing, and wrote an article to add to the members’ resources area. 
  • Hosted by Myli – My Community Library, Lucy Goodwill from Edinburgh City of Literature ran three virtual writing workshops – one for teens, adults and a wellbeing workshop aimed at seniors. 
  • Hosted by The F Project, Sana-Bella Ebrahim from Durban City of Literature did a social media takeover, delievered a comic strip and hosted a digital storytelling lab.
  • Hosted by Melbourne Writers’ Theatre, Emily Duncan from Dunedin City of Literature facilitated two workshops – one on neurodivergence and playwriting, and one on writing for young audiences – and a script reading of her new play ‘Ratted’, accompanied by a Q&A. 
  • Hosted by Kingston Libraries, Lethokuhle Msimang from Durban City of Literature wrote a poem titled ‘Country I Am From’ and participated in two of the library’s virtual writing group sessions.