Calling all writers, there’s a new award in town, the Dorothy Hewett Award.
Hewett Award © The Ponder Room
Last week I went to the Perth ABC Studio’s to hear about the latest award for an unpublished manuscript. Terriann White from UWA Publishing and well known WA author Amanda Curtin, joined Gillian O’Shaughnessy to discuss the details and what it takes to get a manuscript published.
© The Ponder Room
Terriann provided insight into the powerful life of Dorothy Hewett, explaining that amongst other things she was a UWA graduate and teacher as well as a two time winner of the Premiers Award.
‘It was important for her name to stay out there.’ said Terriann.
She also outlined just why it’s so hard to find a publisher. Her open, honest assessment of a publishers life is always a good reminder of how incredibly competitive the writing game is. I’m always left with the feeling that, if you think the writing game is hard don’t try publishing.
Amanda echoed this, suggesting that her own writing life was ‘part preparation, part luck’.
So why on earth do we do it?? And why would we subject ourselves to entering a competition?
Well according to Terriann and Amanda …
- Having ‘Award’ on the cover draws attention rather than just ‘a book’;
- It helps get media reviews, ‘it’s an extra tick’;
- Book clubs are more interested.
When asked their advice about the competition …
‘Make sure your manuscript is the very best it can be,’ said Amanda
‘I like to see prose that sparkles … something that would make me stay up all night. reading it.’ added Terriann
A joint venture between UWA Publishing and the Copyright Agency Limited, the award provides an opportunity for writers who have a finished manuscript sitting in their bottom draw … or on the top of their desk for that matter. The key elements of the award are …
- An annual award;
- An unpublished manuscript that is complete on submission;
- Fiction, narrative fiction or a poetry collection;
- Should have a connection to WA either history, people, landscape, the residence or birthplace of the author etc.
- One entry per person;
- 18 years and over;
- Entry fee of $15;
- Award will be announced at the Perth Writers Festival 2016;
- Entries are open now;
- Entries due in September 4.
Oh and I guess you’d be interested in knowing that there’s a$10,000 prize plus the opportunity for a publishing contract.
For more information go to UWA Publishing
Good luck
