State Library of Queensland > About us > Partnerships, programs, projects > Young Writers Award

Young Writers award closes July 2009

State Library of Queensland Young Writers Award 2009 - now open!

Have you got a way with words?

If you're aged 18 to 25 and live in Queensland, write a short story of 2,500 words or less and you could win $2,000 and launch your writing career.

Submit your short story in the State Library's Young Writers Award 2009 by Monday 20 July for your chance to win.

Previous recipients of this prestigious award include Tara-June Winch, Alasdair Duncan and James Halford who have gone on to successfully publish their work.

Please note: links on this page to non-State Library websites will open in a new window.

The competition

The judging panel, consisting of celebrated author John Birmingham, The Courier-Mail Arts Editor Suzanna Clarke, award-winning young adult author Sue Gough, and novelist and former Young Writers Award winner Alasdair Duncan, will select the winner of the Young Writers Award 2009, the recipient for the Maureen Donahoe Encouragement Award and four highly commended entries.

Prizes include

$2,000 to Young Writers Award winner
$500 to the Encouragement Award recipient
12 month membership to Queensland Writers Centre
12 month membership to Australian Writers Marketplace online
Admission to a Queensland Writers Centre workshop / Industry seminar OR a season pass to the Wordpool series.
Admission to a Brisbane Writers Festival workshop

How to enter

Feeling inspired? Download an entry form [new window 669 kb], read the included terms and conditions in full (to ensure your entry is valid) and start writing!

Read past winning stories

2008 winning stories

Winning story: The Life of Brian (or lack thereof) by Maree Spratt [new window 144 kb]
Encouragement Award winner: My Mechanical Heart by Kathleen Noud [new window 120 kb]
Highly commended: The Sand Woman by Kate Sherington [new window 116 kb]
Highly commended: Father Morphine by Rachel Ryan [new window 128 kb]
Highly commended: My Mother’s Machines by Maxine Mellor [new window 144 kb]
Highly commended: That Vain Pursuit by Samuel Dinnison [new window 132 kb]