Applications are now open for the 2019 Writers’ Award. This award is proudly brought to you by the New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) and Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ).
The Writers' Award was established to provide financial support for writers wishing to devote time to a specific project and to cover reasonable research expenses relating to it. In a broad range of non-fiction genre, specifically including education works, it is the clear intention of the Writers’ Award that a book will be published as a result of winning the award.
- $25,000 award to a New Zealand writer
- one of the highest non-fiction prizes in New Zealand literature
- brought to you by the New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) and Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ)
“If you’re thinking about applying – do it! Like me, you might just surprise yourself with a win.”
In 2018 writer Nic Low (Ngāi Tahu), received the $25,000 award towards his project Uprising.
“I’m writing a book about Ngāi Tahu in the Southern Alps, told through walking journeys. Winning the CLNZ Writers Award has been a huge boost for the project. After quietly working on it on and off over the years, I suddenly had the resources and time to give it my full focus. It’s allowed me to attend hui, conduct interviews, and spend serious time at my desk completing a draft,” Nic says of winning the award.
The award was established to provide financial support for writers wishing to devote time to a specific project and to cover reasonable research expenses relating to it. In a broad range of non-fiction genre, specifically including education works, it is the clear intention of the Writers’ Award that a book will be published as a result of winning the award.
The CLNZ/NZSA Writers’ Award is made possible through CLNZ’s Cultural Fund. The Cultural Fund’s objectives are to:
Protect – writers and publishers’ ability to earn revenue from their works
Support – the creation and production of new works and assist the commercial success of New Zealand works
Grow – the number of works created and skills in the industry
We encourage non-fiction writers to consider applying for this award. Applications for the full range of non-fiction genre are welcome. Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents and writers of proven merit.
Submissions for entries must be made online and are open from 2 August 2019 until 6 September. The winner will be announced in the final quarter of 2019 and will be publicised widely through CLNZ and NZSA media channels.
Deadline for applications is 4pm, 6 September. An application fee of $25 is required to complete application. This fee helps ensure the sustainable administration of the grants.
CLNZ / NZSA Writers’ Award Guidelines
Photo by James Sutton on Unsplash