Windeyer awarded 2025 Writing NSW Varuna Fellowship

Writing NSW has announced Kirsty Windeyer as the winner of its 2025 Varuna fellowship for her novel manuscript ‘You Fix It’.

Judges praised Windeyer’s work for its ‘compelling synopsis, gripping opening scene, and assured, confident writing’. ‘Dealing with domestic violence, the writer is able to entwine the personal, systemic, legal and cultural aspects in a way that keeps the victim’s experience at the fore and is immediately relatable.’

Windeyer has worked in a range of legal and policy roles and has experience in contributing to nonfiction reports. ‘You Fix It’ is her first work of fiction.

She said of the win, ‘It’s been a dream of mine to have a residency at Varuna; what could be better – space, time, a writing community in the most stunning of environments?’

Windeyer has been awarded a week-long residency at Varuna, The National Writers’ House to develop her work.

The winning manuscript was selected from about 100 entries by judges Maame Blue, Emma Rafferty and Andrew Glassop.

They said of the process of reading entries this year, ‘The strength of the writing scene in NSW continues to be strong, and it’s heartening to see so many great emerging writers out there.’

Judges also named Oormila Vijayakrishnan Prahlad (for ‘The Land Never Asks’) and Libby Colla (for ‘Big Things’) as runners-up. Both receive entry to a short writing course of their choice.

The Writing NSW Varuna Fellowship runs annually, awarded to a member of Writing NSW who has a work ready for the next stage of development.

Last year’s winner was J Marahuyo for her poetry manuscript ‘Disclosure of Violence’.

Category: Awards