The Australian Fiction Prize 2025 opens for entries
Is this your new chapter? The Australian Fiction Prize 2025 is now open for entries.
All writers are welcome! That’s the message from the judges of the 2025 The Australian Fiction Prize, which is open for entries.
The competition, proudly and enthusiastically sponsored by The Australian and HarperCollins Australia, carries an impressive $35,000 prize for the winner.
The prize also comes with publication: the winner’s manuscript will be published as a novel by Australia’s leading publisher, HarperCollins.
There is no age limit, and writers don’t have to be first-timers. Authors who have previously had a novel published are eligible, and indeed urged to submit their best work.
The competition was launched last year, with the aim of finding the next great Australian novel.
More than 500 writers entered a manuscript.
The inaugural winner, Katherine Johnson, impressed the judges with her thrilling story about a brave girl who had been raised on a remote Tasmanian island.
It was cleverly plotted, and atmospheric, and it will be out with HarperCollins next year.
The head of fiction at HarperCollins, Catherine Milne, who has published some of Australia’s most popular novelists, including Trent Dalton and Holly Ringland, said: “Reading the entries in The Australian Fiction Prize is a little like panning for gold – always that same rush of excitement when we find a manuscript that shines and we think ‘Eureka!’ I can’t wait to do it again this year.”
Literary critic Samuel Bernard said: “To explore the labyrinth of Australian storytelling at its most raw and dazzling left little doubt in my mind that the future of our industry is in safe hands.”
Letitia Davy, manager and buyer at Gleebooks, Dulwich Hill, said: “I was so impressed by the calibre of entries last year and I enthusiastically encourage authors to submit their work for the 2025 prize.”
So, polish up that manuscript, and get yourself entered.
You will find more details at: www.harpercollins.com.au/theaustralianfictionprize/
Add your comment to this story
Lessons in spirit from Sienese school
A sparkling exhibition in London celebrates Siena’s 14th century role as a centre of painting quite distinct from Renaissance Florence.
‘Running a music festival is like farming – you have good and bad years’
He used his redundancy cheque to found the Big Red Bash music festival - and later the Mundi Mundi Bash. But for all the risks involved it’s been a hell of a ride, says Greg Donovan.
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout