Applications for the 2018 D’Arcy Writers’ Grants, in association with North & South magazine, for essays of 10,000 to 12,000 words on New Zealand life and culture will close on Friday, October 13. The grants provide $5000 each for two successful applicants and the winning essays will be published in special sections of North & South magazine.

Applications should be sent in Word format to gordonmclauchlan3@gmail.com They must include a reasonably well developed synopsis of the proposed essay, plus a full biographical note, including references to, and some examples of, previously published work.

The successful applicants will be announced on Monday, November 10. The judging panel will be writer Gordon McLauchlan (chair); Virginia Larson, editor of North & South; Jackie Dennis, of Script to Screen; writer Hamish Keith; writer Bruce Ansley; and NZSA (PEN NZ Inc) CEO Jenny Nagle.

The winning essayists will, of course, retain copyright and moral rights for the work but the Committee will hold the publishing right.

Any inquiries should also be sent to gordonmclauchlan3@gmail.com