A practical, confidence-building workshop to help writers win more grants, awards, and fellowships — with strategies you can start using immediately.

Securing funding and opportunities is a crucial part of a sustainable writing career — but the application process can feel overwhelming, competitive, and unclear. In this three-hour workshop, award-winning playwright, author, and creative coach David Burton demystifies the world of grants, awards, and fellowships.

Through real examples, insider insights, and practical exercises, participants will learn how to identify the right opportunities, craft compelling applications, articulate their artistic vision, and avoid the common pitfalls that sink submissions. Writers will leave with increased confidence, sharper application tools, and a clearer plan for pursuing opportunities that support their creative work.

Learning outcomes

As part of this workshop, you will learn to:

Identify the grants, awards, and fellowships most aligned with your career stage and project goals.
Write stronger pitches, project descriptions, and artist statements that stand out to assessors.
Understand what assessors look for and how applications are evaluated behind the scenes.
Develop a clear budget, timeline, and support material plan for funding submissions.
Avoid common mistakes that weaken applications - and learn how to strengthen future resubmissions.
Build an actionable strategy for applying to opportunities throughout the year.

Format

This is an in-person workshop with a focus on writer sustainability; it will be held at State Library of Queensland. This workshop is suitable for writers of all levels and backgrounds.

About David

David Burton is an award-winning playwright, author, journalist, and creative coach based in Queensland. He is best known for his verbatim play April’s Fool, widely studied in Australian schools, and for more than thirty professionally produced works across stage and page. David holds a doctorate in theatre and teaches widely across the creative industries. His nonfiction, fiction, and arts features appear in publications including ArtsHub. Through his coaching practice, he helps creatives find clarity, confidence, and momentum in their work. David’s approach blends storytelling, emotional insight, and practical strategy to support artists at every stage of their careers.

For more information about Queensland Writers Centre’s Program of Events and answers to FAQs, please visit: www.queenslandwriters.org.au/program-info

Contact the host of Applying For Grants, Awards & Fellowships with David Burton