2024 Fresh Ink Prize now open

Newcastle Writers Festival is inviting emerging writers living in regional NSW to submit to the 2024 Fresh Ink Emerging Writers Prize. The prize seeks to elevate marginalised voices and acknowledges the challenges faced by writers in remote and regional areas. The Fresh Ink Prize is sponsored by Newcastle business Fourth Wave Wine via their Elephant in the Room label, and is supported by Create NSW and Varuna, the Writers’ House.

The winner will be awarded $5000 to support the development of their writing as well as a week-long residency at Varuna.

The judges of this year’s prize are Anna Downes and David Owen Kelly.

Anna Downes Anna Downes is an actor-turned-writer, born in the UK and now based in Australia. She is the author of three novels, The Safe Place, The Shadow House, and Red River Road. Anna lives on the NSW Central Coast with her husband and two children.

David Owen Kelly grew up in a family of 13. His siblings were adopted, fostered, step, and blood. Two were Stolen Generation. A Queer writer, memoir is his primary writing focus. His books include Fantastic Street, State of Origin, and his latest, the novel/memoir Host City. He is based in Newcastle.

Submissions open at 9.00am on 2 July 2024 and close at 23.59pm AEST 19 August 2024.

A shortlist will be announced on 12 September and the winner will be announced at a special event on 28 September in Newcastle.

There is a $12 entry fee.

Entries will be assessed on the following criteria:

– Literary merit
– Viability and impact of development plan

Please read the SUBMISSION GUIDELINES AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS

It is recommended you prepare your responses in a separate document and cut and paste information into the online form.

All enquiries can be emailed to

ad***@ne**********************.au