PICTURE BOOK WRITING COMPETITION
OUR COMPETITION IS CURRENTLY ON PAUSE!
OUR VOLUNTEER ORGANISERS ARE TAKING A BREAK!
2 2022 picture book competition winners!
The 2022 Picture Book Writing Competition has now been completed.
Thank you to everyone who entered!
The winners of the 2022 Picture Book Competition were announced at the 2022 Festival.
Huge congratulations to the winners and shortlist!!
Check out the full winners’ announcement below.
Picture Book Competition
Organised entirely on a volunteer basis, by the Fellowship of Australian Writers, Sutherland Branch, the annual Picture Book Writing Competition is run, in conjunction with our Writers Unleashed Festival.
Prizes
1st Prize: $500
2nd Prize: $200
3rd Prize: $100
Emerging Writer Award: Mentorship with Clare Hallifax, Walker Books Australia
Certificate awarded to shortlisted and winning entries
*Scroll down for Conditions of Entry and Submission Guidelines.
Judge and Mentor Clare Hallifax
Clare has worked in publishing since 1990. Beginning her career as a political journalist, Clare went back to her first love, literature. Over the years she has edited and published books for both adults and children - ranging from political biographies, student text books, business books to narrative non-fiction, to literary and mass-market fiction and picture books.
Clare is a publisher with Walker Books Australia. For the past decade, she has worked with esteemed names of Australian children’s publishing including Mem Fox, Julie Vivas, Judy Horacek, Libby Gleeson, Kerry Argent, Emily Rodda, Michael Gerard Bauer, Philip Bunting, Richard Yaxley, Tamsin Janu and a long list of authors and illustrators that continually inspire her. Whether from established writers, or new voices, the excitement of discovering new stories never gets old.
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
Original picture book manuscripts only. Must not have been accepted for publication or won a prize in any other competition at the time of comp closure.
The entry may be entered in more than one competition, however, it must be withdrawn if the writer is advised the entry has been successful or won a prize elsewhere.
500 word limit, excluding the identified entry title, word count and page numbers.
No illustrations to be included. Any illustration notes (where included) will count towards the word count.
Open theme.
Multiple entries are acceptable, however must be submitted separately.
Entry fee of $20 per entry.
Manuscripts are to be submitted (including payment of entry fees) via the Writers Unleashed website. Manuscripts submitted through other means (e.g. via email) will not be accepted.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Entries must be in English and typed, double spaced, 12 point, and Times New Roman font.
The header of each page must contain the title, word count and page number.
Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or PDF (.pdf) documents only.
Document name to be the same as the entry title (e.g. 'YourTitle.doc').
Entries must be submitted via the Writers Unleashed website including details of the manuscript title, word count, author’s name, address, phone number and email, and whether you are entering as an emerging writer.
Entrant's name should NOT appear anywhere in the manuscript or document title.
Judging and Notification
Shortlisted Entrants will be notified by email on 1 Aug 2022.
Shortlist will be published on the Writers Unleashed Website, Pass It On and Buzz Words from 1 Aug 2022.
Winners will be announced and prizes awarded at the Writers Unleashed Festival in September 2022.
First, second and third placed entries will receive cash prizes of $500, $200 and $100 respectively.
In addition, the highest placed entry by an emerging writer within the shortlist will receive a mentorship with Clare Hallifax, Walker Books Australia comprising written feedback on two unpublished manuscripts by the writer (either the competition entry and one other OR two separate manuscripts). Clare will provide initial feedback, a follow-up meeting or phone call to discuss revisions.
If the highest placed entry by an emerging writer is judged as one of the top three entries of the competition, the emerging writer mentorship will be awarded in addition to the relevant cash prize for first, second or third place.
Where the shortlist does not include any entries by emerging writers, the emerging writer mentorship will not be awarded in that year.
For the purposes of this competition, an emerging writer is defined as a writer who has not had any picture books published by a traditional publisher. Writers who have had their picture book manuscript self-published, or published in an anthology, or published via hybrid publishing can enter as an emerging writer. Writers who are traditionally published in a separate genre (e.g. other Kid or Adult Lit that is not a picture book) are still able to enter under this category. If you wish to be considered under the emerging writer category, please tick this category when submitting your entry.
Prize winners unable to attend the Festival, will receive their cash prizes electronically.
Members of the Fellowship of Australian Writers (Sutherland) executive, the Writers Unleashed Festival committee, the Picture Book Competition judges, or their immediate family members are not eligible to enter.
All entries will be judged blind. The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. No feedback will be provided on individual entries.
Need Help?
Please contact us with any questions at shirefestivalcomp@gmail.com
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The 2022 Picture Book Competition is now closed. Thank you to everyone who entered.