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Young Writers Award
2024 winner announced!
State Library of Queensland is delighted to announce that this year’s winner is Ash Shirvington, aged 20, for his story 'Birdbone'. He will be awarded $2,000 in prize money from State Library, publication with literary journal Kill Your Darlings, and a membership to Queensland Writers Centre.
Congratulations, Ash!
WINNER: 'Birdbone' by Ash Shirvington
Kill Your Darlings will work with Ash in the coming months to publish ‘Birdbone’, but you can read an exclusive excerpt here.
Ash Shirvington is a trans man writing on Quandamooka country. He is currently studying at Griffith University for a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in creative writing. In 2023 he was named runner-up the Young Writers Award. Ash is working on expanding his folio of short stories and also has a poem forthcoming in Red Ogre Review. He can be found on Instagram at @ash.s.writes.
First runner up: 'Salt' by Sara Allan-Park
Sara Allan-Park is a South Korean-Australian writer whose work centres their personal experiences with identity, family and what it means to be a young Australian. Her narrative prose often tackles complex subjects such as loss, her background as a transracial adoptee, violence against women and questions of sexuality and gender. They are studying a dual degree in Arts and Business at Griffith University and hope to work in publishing someday.
Second runner up: 'Goodie' by AJ Pope
AJ Pope is a paramedicine student who loves to write in her spare time. AJ enjoys writing fan-fiction and this is the first writing competition she has entered. 'Goodie' was partially inspired by the clever ways author Stephen King uses the eyes of children to portray dramatic subject matter.
Third runner up: 'Worth It' by Quinn Stennett
Quinn Stennett is 23 and works at a hospital in Meanjin. She grew up mostly on Macleay Island, but lived in many places between Queensland and Tasmania in her childhood, which greatly inspires her writing. Her writing explores unresolved and sometimes unexplainable emotions. She has been writing all her life and recently decided some of it was worth sharing and got published for the first-time last year in Verandah Journal. Quinn has been working on a novel for the last 10 years, which she intends to finish once she learns a little more about the world.
Congratulations to Sara, AJ, and Quinn, the runners up in the 2024 Young Writers Award. They will each receive $500 and a membership to Queensland Writers Centre.
In addition, judges acknowledged five highly commended writers:
HIGHLY COMMENDED: 'Bones' by Lara Kenny
HIGHLY COMMENDED: 'The World According To Us' by Lachlan Tang
HIGHLY COMMENDED: 'Cicada Shells' by Emily Bowman
HIGHLY COMMENDED: 'Downhill' by Jodey Brand
HIGHLY COMMENDED: 'Forgetting Is So Long' by Iris Monod
Congratulations to Lara, Lachlan, Emily, Jodey, and Iris on their highly commended entries.
Judges' comments
"This year's top entries demonstrate the promise and flair of our newest crop of emerging writers. The judges were impressed by the range of literary styles and techniques at play in these stories, which nonetheless had key elements of craft in common: namely narrative concision, strength of voice, compelling characters and, importantly, their capacity to surprise and delight."
Thank you to Siang Lu (Chair), Julie Koh, Alan Vaarwerk, and Ellen Vickerman for judging. Find out more here.
Thank you to all who entered their work in the 2024 Young Writers Award.
Keep an eye out in 2025 when State Library will proudly run the Young Writers Award again. Till then, happy writing!
About the Award
Since 1998, the Young Writers Award has recognised and celebrated a diversity of young and exciting Queensland voices. The award is an amazing opportunity for young writers all over Queensland to showcase works of short fiction, make long-lasting industry connections, and achieve publication.
Entry is open for short stories by any young Queensland writer aged between 18-25.
- First prize is $2,000 and publication in Kill Your Darlings.
- Up to three runners-up will each receive $500 and QWC membership.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the Young Writers Award, email us at sm-storiesideas@slq.qld.gov.au
