The saying goes when you are a writer that you have to clock up 200 rejections before you can start expecting any acceptances. I have well and truly paid my dues to the literary gods, and this year I was accepted into the Writing NSW emerging writers mentorship program. The inestimable author Roanna Gonsalves has mentored me and five other writers over the last few months, commenting on draft work and encouraging us to keep going. This kind of support is absolutely crucial for all writers, but especially the writers targeted in this program, who all identify as FNPOC writers.

I hope to find a publication home for the essay I have been working on with Roanna. It’s all about being a non-white person trying to find a connection to land in Australia, ethically and spiritually.

To read more about the competition and the other writers in the cohort, visit Writing NSW.