The Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers is a developmental award open to Australian secondary school-aged students across the nation.
The prize recognises writing excellence in three categories: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction and Poetry. Entries can include writing for readers of any age.
The Prize is sponsored by Hachette Australia and administered by Express Media, Australia’s premier youth literary organisation. Shortlisted writers get the opportunity to receive mentorship from an established author. In 2023, the Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers Mentor is Pip Harry!
The Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers gives young writers the opportunity to hone their skills under the guidance of some of Australia’s favourite authors. The Prize aims to ignite passion for creative writing and poetry in the minds of Australia’s secondary school students, and to encourage them to pursue writing and publishing opportunities inside and outside of the classroom.
On becoming our 2023 Ambassador, Pip says:
“I’m so excited and honoured to be this year’s ambassador for the Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers, administered by Express Media, Australia’s peak youth literary organisation. One of my favourite parts of being an author is encouraging young people to explore different styles of writing and find their unique voices on the page. I’m looking forward to discovering a new crop of emerging writers from the talented scribes that enter their work into this prize. Be brave – submit!”
The prize winner in each category will receive:
- $500 courtesy of Hachette Australia
- Publication of their work on the Express Media website
- Their names and an acknowledgement printed in Voiceworks, Australia’s premier youth literary journal.
All fifteen shortlisted writers will:
- Be invited to participate in a writing masterclass
- Attend an exclusive Q&A with Pip Harry
- Receive a book pack of YA titles courtesy of Hachette Australia.
The prize is judged by representatives from Hachette Australia and Express Media.
Submissions for the 2023 prize will open 5 June!
Learn about the 2022 winners and read their work here.
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Pip Harry | Prize Mentor 2023
Pip Harry is a proud word nerd, having spent the past 25 years working as a writer, editor and author for magazines, websites and organisations. Her books for children and young adults include The Little Wave, winner of the 2020 CBCA Book of the Year, Because of You, Are You There, Buddha? and August & Jones. After six years living in Singapore, she recently returned home with her family to the beautiful Northern Beaches of Sydney. Pip works as a copywriter for a non-profit in the youth homelessness sector and is thrilled to have three picture books coming out soon. When Pip isn’t scribbling, typing or reading, she loves to swim in the ocean, wander along bush tracks and eat ice-cream.
Have a question about the prize? Contact Mia Nie, Creative Producer, at creativeproducer@expressmedia.org.au
