Print-friendly versionIn 2006 entries are sought in the following categories:
Please refer to the Generic Conditions of Entry for all categories.
The shortlist will be announced in August 2006 and the winners of this year's Queensland Premier's Literary Awards will be announced in September 2006.
Fiction Book Award - $25 000
This prize is offered to the author of a fiction book published between 1 June 2005 and 30 May 2006 and entries must include completed entry forms and five copies of the relevant titles.
Emerging Queensland Author - Manuscript Award - $20 000
This prize is offered to an unpublished author including a collection of short stories, a novella or a novel, including all forms of non-fiction, authors of this category must be residents in Queensland for a period of 5 years up to and including the date of entry.
An unpublished author is defined as an author with no commercial publication of a manuscript by a trade publisher or other conventional publisher and excludes successful self-publishing (more than 500 copies sold).
In addition to the prize money of $20,000, a publishing contract with the University of Queensland Press will be offered to the winning author for their manuscript to be published in the following year.
Manuscripts must be a minimum of 40,000 words and maximum of 100,000 words, and entries must include a completed entry form and five copies of the manuscript.
Five copies are to be forwarded to the Literary Awards Coordinator in the following format:
- Title page listing author name, name of manuscript and literary category;
- Manuscripts must be typed or word processed on A4 paper, one side only;
- Preferably plain font, 12 point, one and a half line spaced with a minimum of 2 centimetre margin;
- Page numbered; and
- Manuscripts should be submitted in a loose-leaf format (no stapling or binding).
Any short listed authors will be required to sign a statutory declaration form stating that the work is entirely their own and that they have never been published or signed under a publishing contract.
Unpublished Indigenous Writer - The David Unaipon Award - $15 000
This prize is for unpublished Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander writers and is judged and chosen by a panel of Indigenous established authors and a representative of University of Queensland Press.
The winning manuscript is mentored and published by University of Queensland Press.
Please refer to the David Unaipon entry form and Conditions of Entry.
Download the David Unaipon entry form and Conditions of Entry.
Non-Fiction - The Dymocks Literacy Foundation Award - $15 000
This prize is offered to the author of a non-fiction book published between 1 June 2005 to 30 May 2006.
Entries to this category may consist of biographies and memoirs but are not restricted to these and entries must include a completed entry form and six copies of the relevant title.
History Book Award - $15 000
This prize is offered to the author of a history book published between 1 June 2005 to 30 May 2006.
Entries must include a completed entry form and four copies of the relevant title.
Children's Book Award - $15 000
This prize is offered to the author of a children's book published between 1 June 2005 and 30 May 2006.
The book should be aimed at young readers between the ages of 6 to 11 years, and entries must include a completed entry form and four copies of the relevant title.
Young Adult Book Award - $15 000
This prize is offered to the author of a young adult book published between 1 June 2005 and 30 May 2006.
The book should be aimed at young readers between the ages of 12 to 16 years, and entries must include a completed entry form and five copies of the relevant title.
Science Writer -
Department of State Development, Trade and Innovation Award - $15 000
This prize is offered to the author of either print or electronic media published between 1 June 2005 and 30 May 2006 that promotes and explains the benefits of science to the wider community, including the role that science plays in improving societies' health, well being and culture.
Entries can include a book, television or radio feature/script, feature article or series published in a newspaper, journal or magazine or on-line. Academic pieces such as edited compendiums, autobiographies and collections of lectures are ineligible.
In addition, a 150-200 word summary is required explaining why the author feels the entered work promotes the role that science plays in improving societies' health and well being and culture.
Entries must include a completed entry form and four copies of the relevant title. Electronic entries should include a tape and four copies of the transcript.
Poetry Collection -
Arts Queensland Judith Wright Calanthe Award - $15 000
This prize is offered to the author of a collection of poetry published between 1 January 2005 and 30 May 2006.
Entries will be ineligible if a significant portion of the book has previously been published in book form in Australia.
The book must be an original collection of poetry written by one author. Anthologies or multi-author collections are ineligible.
Entries must include a completed entry form and three copies of the relevant title.
Australian Short Story Collection -
Arts Queensland Steele Rudd Award - $15 000
This prize is awarded to the author of a collection of short stories published between 1 January 2005 and 30 May 2006.
Entries will be ineligible if a significant portion of the book has previously been published in book form in Australia.
The book must be an original collection of short stories written by one author. Anthologies or multi-author collections are ineligible.
Entries must include a completed entry form and four copies of the relevant title.
Literary or Media Work Advancing Public Debate -
The Harry Williams Award - $15 000
This prize is offered to the author of either print or electronic media published between 1 June 2005 to 30 May 2006.
Entries can include a book, television or radio feature/script, feature article or series published in a newspaper, journal or magazine or on-line. Academic pieces such as edited compendiums, autobiographies and collections of lectures are ineligible.
In addition, a 150-200 word summary is required explaining why the author feels the entered work advances public debate.
Entries must include a completed entry form and five (5) copies of the relevant title. Electronic entries should include a tape and five copies of the transcript.
Film Script -
Pacific Film & Television Commission Award - $15 000
This prize is offered to the author of a film script. Scripts must have been produced to be eligible, that is to say, principal photography must have commenced between 1 June 2005 to 30 May 2006. It is not necessary that the production should have publicly screened during this time.
Scripts may be entered by writers, their agents, film distributors or production companies.
Entries must include a completed entry form and four copies of the relevant title.
Television Script -
QUT Creative Industries Award - $15 000
This prize is offered to the author of a television script. Scripts must have been produced to be eligible, that is to say, principal photography must have commenced between 1 June 2005 to 30 May 2006. It is not necessary that the production should have publicly screened during this time.
Scripts may be entered by writers, their agents, film distributors or production companies.
Entries must include a completed entry form and four (4) copies of the relevant title.
Drama Script (Stage) Award - $15 000
This prize is offered to the author of a script for a drama production. Scripts produced in a professional, profit share or significant community or cultural development context are eligible. The script must have had a first public performance between 1 June 2005 to 30 May 2006.
Scripts may be entered by writers, agents, theatre companies or production companies.
Entries must include a completed entry form and four (4) copies of the relevant title.