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Young Writers award closes July 2009

State Library of Queensland Young Writers Award 2009

The Young Writers Award winner

Congratulations to Megan McGrath of Taringa who has been awarded the State Library of Queensland Young Writers Award 2009 winner and $2,000 for her story The lunar coast [new window 183 kb].

Judges were unanimous in their decision, describing The lunar coast, the story of two young men’s search for identity in a waning fishing town, as a beautifully written narrative.

Judges said:

Megan has conjured up the deeply conflicted, contested world in which all men live both in their real and imagined lives. She has beautifully crafted her words, with each paragraph bearing at least one sentence that shines like a multi faceted jewel. She was, quite simply, the stand out writer this year."

Megan first entered the competition in 2006 and her story was flagged as a Highly Commended entry, followed in 2007 with her receipt of the first runner up prize, the Maureen Donahoe Encouragement Award for her story Fuel for Loneliness. For Megan to take out the grand prize in 2009 is a great illustration of how competitions such as these help to nurture and encourage young writers through a critical period in their writing development.

Maureen Donahoe Encouragement Award winner

Congratulations to Liam O'Brien from Everton Park. He has won the $500 Maureen Donahoe Encouragement Award for his story What Sort of Heroine [new window 177 kb].

Judges said

"Liam's quirky, sly, and all-too-well observed take on a night out gone right then wrong was horribly, yet satisfyingly, reminiscent of just about all of the judges own, best forgotten salad days."

Highly commended

Five highly commended entries have been selected to receive membership and workshops with the Queensland Writers Centre and Brisbane Writers Festival.