Stephen Stratford, assessor

Open only to financial members of the NZSA the programme, sponsored by Creative New Zealand, is for new writers with little or no publication in book form (although may be published in literary journals and periodicals). The objective of the programme is to give authors who have written and revised to second or third draft a manuscript of poetry, fiction, short fiction and non-fiction the opportunity to have it assessed by an experienced assessor.

The programme is also open to mid-career writers. A mid-career writer is deemed to be a writer who has published a minimum of three publications and a maximum of six.

The selection committee will choose successful applicants and match them with an assessor who specialises in the genre the applicant writes in. An assessment can assist an author to improve the quality of their work, but there is no guarantee of publication. This ultimately depends on the publishers' lists; what else is being published in your genre; and many other factors which impact on the commercial viability of a book.

Successful applicants will receive a detailed report on their manuscript's strengths and weaknesses, and will provide suggestions for improvement.

Applications are called for in June and the deadline is in August. To request an application form email the NZSA office; print out the documents below; or send a SAE to Assessment Programme, PO Box 7701, Wellesley St, Auckland 1141. 

Information

Application form