There are a number of manuscript prizes and mentoring opportunities on offer in Australia and overseas. This is not an exhaustive list and the PCWC does not endorse any particular prize or opportunity, and our Centre does not receive any financial benefit from promoting these opportunities.
Australian Prizes & Opportunities
Allen & Unwin Crime Fiction Prize & The Australian/Vogle’s Literary Award
Allen & Unwin conduct the Allen & Unwin Crime Fiction Prize and The Australian/Vogle’s Literary Award.
Visit: https://www.allenandunwin.com/
ASA Writers and Illustrator Mentorship Award:
Each year the Australian Society of Authors conducts a Writers and Illustrators Mentorship Award with 20 mentorships on offer and a Paths to Publishing Program. Please see the link below on how to apply for this opportunity.
See: https://www.asauthors.org/services/award-mentorships-2
The ASA does also offer a manuscript assessment service with selected mentors but this is a paid service.
For information, see: https://www.asauthors.org/services/mentorships/asa-mentorships
Fogarty Prize & The TAG Hungerford Award (Fremantle Press)
Fremantle Press conducts two major biennial literary prizes: The TAG Hungerford Award and The Fogarty Prize. These prizes are run in alternate years. In 2021, The Fogarty Prize is currently open for entries for an unpublished manuscript by a Western Australian author aged between 18 and 35 for a work of fiction, narrative non-fiction or young adult fiction. The winner receives a cash prize of $20,000 and a publishing contract with Fremantle Press. Entries close on 15 April, 2021.
The TAG Hungerford Award will open again for entries in 2022.
See: https://www.fremantlepress.com.au/
Michael Gifkins Prize for an Unpublished Novel (Text Publishing)
This prize is conducted by Text Publishing and is an award for writers holding New Zealand citizenship or who are permanent residents of New Zealand.
https://www.textpublishing.com.au/michael-gifkins-prize
Penguin Random House Literary Prize
Penguin Random House conducts the annual Penguin Random House Literary Prize. This prize was established in 2017 to find, nurture and develop new Australian authors of literary fiction.
See: https://www.penguin.com.au/news/2912-penguin-literary-prize-2021
Queensland Writers Centre’s Adaptable Program
This program is to identify writing suitable or with the potential to be adapted for film or TV.
See: https://queenslandwriters.org.au/adaptable
The Banjo Prize (Harper Collins)
The Banjo Prize is an annual manuscript prize to find the next great Australian storyteller.
See: https://www.harpercollins.com.au/thebanjoprize/
The Carmel Bird Digital Literary Award
The annual Carmel Bird Digital Literary Award is open to novellas and short fiction collections up to 30,000 words in length. In 2021, the award included cash prize amounts of $3000 for the winner and $1000 for two runners-up as well as world-wide digital publication of all three winning entries.
See: https://shortaustralianstories.com.au/submissions/
The Dorothy Hewett Award for an Unpublished Manuscript (UWAP)
The University of Western Australia Press conducts The Dorothy Hewett Award for an Unpublished Manuscript on an annual basis. Entries in The Dorothy Hewett Award will open later in 2021.
You can read more about The Dorothy Hewett Award at: https://uwap.uwa.edu.au/pages/dorothy-hewett-award-for-an-unpublished-manuscript
The Matilda Children’s Literature Prize
The Matilda Children’s Literature Prize is an annual competition conducted in conjunction with HarperCollinsChildren’s Books Australia.
See: https://www.harpercollins.com.au/thematildaprize/
The Richell Prize (Hachette Australia)
Hachette Australia, together with the Richell family, established and conduct The Richell Prize for Emerging Writers. The Prize is open for unpublished writers of adult fiction and adult narrative non-fiction. Writers do not need to have a full manuscript at the time of submission, though they must intend to complete one.
For further information visit: https://www.hachette.com.au/richell-prize/
The Text Prize for Young Adult & Children’s Writing
This prize is awarded annually for the best manuscript written for young readers and is administered by Text Publishing.
See: https://www.textpublishing.com.au/text-prize
The Valerie Parv Award (Romance Writers Australia)
This award is for a manuscript by aspiring and emerging writers.
Visit: The Valerie Parv Award | Romance Writers of Australia (romanceaustralia.com)
International Prizes
First Pages Prize:
See: https://www.firstpagesprize.com/
Craft First Chapters Contest
See: https://www.craftliterary.com/
Grindstone Literary Novel Prize
See: https://www.grindstoneliterary.com/novel-prize
The Bath Novel Award