The Scribe Nonfiction Prize for Young Writers is a developmental award to foster talented writers aged 30 or under who are working on a longform or book-length nonfiction work.

In addition to a cash prize of $1,500, the winner receives the opportunity to meet with a publisher or an editor and to experience the process of working with an editor on their writing. The winner also receives a year-long subscription to Scribe: each month for 12 months, one new-release title will be sent out to them before it’s in stores.

For the first time in 2015, all longlisted entries will receive personalised feedback from the judging panel on their submission. Judges for The 2015 Scribe Nonfiction Prize are Kimberley Thomson (Nonfiction Editor, Voiceworks), Alan Weedon (Nonfiction Editor, Voiceworks), Rosanna Beatrice Stevens (Highly Commended, 2013 Scribe Prize for Nonfiction), Julia Carlomagno (Editor, Scribe Publications) and Fiona Dunne (Creative Producer, Express Media).

The prize is open to writers who are working in any nonfiction genre, such as memoir, journalism, essay, biography, and creative nonfiction. Entries must be between 5,000 and 10,000 words.

Entries close 9am Friday August 28. Submit your entry now. 

This award is supported by the generosity of Scribe Publications, the independent Melbourne house founded in 1976.

Submission Guidelines
1. Entries open at 9 a.m. Wednesday 17 June.

2. Entries will be accepted in any nonfiction genre, including memoir, journalism, essay, biography, and creative nonfiction.

3. Entries must be between 5,000 and 10,000 words. They may be excerpted from a longer work but should preferably also function as stand-alone pieces.

4. The entry must be an original work by the entrant and written in English.

5. Entrants must be 30 years of age or under as of the closing date, and be residents of Australia.

6. Entries must be neatly typed and double-spaced. Please do not include your name anywhere on the submission.

7. Entrants must submit their entries by using the online entry form. Complete one form per entry. Entries submitted without the completed entry form will not be processed.

8. There is a maximum of two entries per individual.

9. Entries must be received by 9 a.m. (AEST) on Friday 28 August; late entries will not be accepted. Express Media take no responsibility for lost or delayed entries.
Terms and Conditions

1. No more than 10 per cent of the entry material may have been previously published (in print or electronic form) on a commercial basis.

2. While previously published authors are eligible, the entry material must not be under consideration with any other publisher (excluding prizes in which a publisher is co-sponsor). Entrants must notify Express Media immediately if their entry ceases to be eligible.

3. While the entrant may submit the work in other prizes, the entry material must not have previously been awarded first place in any other prize. If, during the judging process of the Scribe Nonfiction Prize for Young Writers, the entry material wins another prize, the entrant must notify Express Media, as their entry ceases to be eligible.

4. All members currently serving on the Express Media Management Committee and all paid, permanent staff of Express Media or Scribe Publications are ineligible to enter.

5. An announcement of longlisted entries will be made on the Express Media and Scribe websites and in associated media, and longlisted entrants will be notified, by 5 p.m. Monday 14 September.

6. An announcement of shortlisted entries will be made on the Express Media and Scribe websites and in associated media, and shortlisted entrants will be notified, by 5 p.m. Monday 2 November. 

7. Longlisted entrants agree to take part in events and media activities to promote the Prize. If your entry is longlisted, you grant Express Media and Scribe Publications permission to use part of your entry for the purpose of promoting you as a longlisted entrant.

8. Longlisted entrants will receive personalised feedback on their submission from the competition judges once the shortlist is announced. Shortlisted entrants will receive personalised feedback from the competition judges once the winner is announced.’

9. The winner may be notified in strict confidence during November, but must agree to keep this news confidential until the announcement of the winning entry at the Express Media Awards on Thursday 3 December. 

10. The judges have the discretion to divide the prize equally between authors of entries they consider to be of equal merit, should the situation arise. The judges’ decision is final; no correspondence will be entered into.

11. The judges may decide not to award the prize if they do not believe any of the entries to be of a suitable standard.

12. The 10 hours of editorial time must be completed within 12 months of the awarding of the prize. The meeting with the editor or publisher may occur at the Scribe offices in Brunswick, Victoria, or via phone or Skype, depending on the winner’s preference and location. If the meeting is at the Scribe offices, the winner will be responsible for any associated travel costs.

Entrants who wish to be considered for the Scribe Nonfiction Prize for Young Writers must be aware that Scribe Publications has first right of refusal over the winning entry. Scribe Publications has sole discretion to decide whether it wants to publish the entry and/or enter into a commercial arrangement with the prize winner, and the prize money may form part of any commercial arrangement. Scribe Publications will let the prize winner know whether it wants to publish the entry and/or enter into a commercial arrangement with the winner within six months of the completion of the awarded editorial time. In the event that Scribe Publications decides not to enter into a commercial arrangement with the prize winner, the winner will be free of commitment to Scribe Publications.