Everyone can write at least one good story. That was the belief of J. F. Archibald, the editor and founder of the famous nineteenth-century weekly, The Bulletin, who invited his readers to become contributors. It was this encouragement that led Joseph Furphy, working in his brother’s foundry at Shepparton, to write his ‘offensively Australian’ novel, Such is Life, using the pseudonym of ‘Tom Collins’. The book, full of stories derived from Joseph’s experience in the Riverina and told in a voice uniquely his own, is now acknowledged to be a classic of Australian literature.
In the spirit of Archibald and honouring the author of Such is Life, the Furphy Literary Award has been established to promote and extend the tradition of story telling, both factual and fictional, that is so much part of Australian life.
From 2020 the Furphy Literary Award will invite entries of short stories of 5000 words for a first prize of $15,000 in the open category. A junior & youth category with a prize pool of $1350 will seek entries for short stories and poetry. In addition to the monetary prizes it is intended that selected works will be included in a collection to be published regularly and that the winner of the open category will also be invited to participate in a residency program in Shepparton.
The Furphy Literary Award includes award winning judges, generous prizes and most importantly the platform and opportunity for all writers to use their talents to compete at the highest standard.
The Furphy Literary Award, both national & regional is made possible from the generous support and contribution provided by the sponsors and to the many people that have contributed to the Joseph Furphy Literary Awards since 1992.
OPEN SHORT STORY COMPETITION CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
- Theme: Australian Life
- Length: Not more than 5,000 words
- Reward: Prize Money: $15,000, University Residency, Publication opportunities
- Registration date: February 1st 2020
- Competition commences: February 1st 2020
- Closing date for entries: April 30th 2020
1. Entrants must be 18 years or more at the time of submission.
2. Authors must be current Australian residents
3. All works must be in English.
4. Entries must be original work and the authors own work
5. There is a limit of two entries per person (including anyone writing under a pseudonym)
6. Any entries submitted for this competition should not simultaneously be entered or under consideration for any other competition or award
7. Entries must not have won a previous award or competition
8. Entries must be unpublished at the time of submission and remain unpublished until after the winner is notified at the awards ceremony at the end of July 2020. Publication includes in print or any type of online publication.
9. Any entry may be published by an FLA authorised publisher under the terms of a publishing agreement in line with industry norms.
10. Entries are submitted unencumbered/unrestricted, with full rights available to the nominated publisher
11. The author’s name, biography and image can be used in marketing and publicity materials associated with the Award, and the author will participate in media interviews, speaking engagements and publicity as required.
12. To preserve anonymity uploaded manuscripts must not contain any personal identification relating to the entrant.
13. In all matters relating to conditions of entry, the decision of the organisers / FLA is final. In all matters relating to judging of the FLA, the decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will entered into.
14. The judges will not be required to make an award if they do not consider the entries to be of sufficient standard.
15. Any entries that are considered by FLA, in its absolute discretion, to be of an offensive nature, will be rejected.
16. Shortlisted writers only will be notified.
17 Writing may be works of fiction or narrative non-fiction.
18. Length: Not more than 5,000 words.
19. Theme: Australian Life
20. Closing date for entries: Entries must be uploaded or as otherwise directed by 5.00pm Thursday 30th April 2020 via the following link – www.furphyliteraryaward.com.au
21. All entries must follow the online registration and submission process.
22. The winner of the 2020 Furphy Literary Award will be announced in July 2020 and published on www.furphyliteraryaward.com.au
Junior / Youth Category General conditions of entry
1. Entrants must meet the age requirement at the time of submission.
2. Junior & Youth entrants must be current Australian residents and live or attend a school within the Goulburn Valley - specifically within Greater Shepparton City Council, Moira, Strathbogie, Mitchell, Murrindindi or Campaspe Shires.
3. Writing may be works of fiction or narrative non-fiction.
4. All submissions must be written in English and must be the original, previously unpublished work of the entrant. Publication includes paid publication or any type of online publication.
5. Junior entries can be typed or hand written (and scanned) and must be uploaded or as otherwise directed by 5.00pm Thursday 30th April 2020 via the following link – www.furphyliteraryaward.com.au
6. Youth entries must be typed and must be uploaded or as otherwise directed by 5.00pm Thursday 30th April 2020 via the following link – www.furphyliteraryaward.com.au
7. More than one entry may be submitted by each entrant.
8. Entries must not have received or be under consideration for any other awards or recognition in any other competition at the closing date for entries.
9. All entries must follow the online registration and submission process.
10. To preserve anonymity uploaded manuscripts must not contain any personal identification relating to the entrant.
11. FLA reserves the right to retain all entries, publish winning entries in newspapers and reproduce winning and shortlisted entries for loan. Copyright remains with the writer.
12. The judges reserve the right to reject entries over specified word limits.
13. The judge’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
14. Finalists only will be notified.
15. The winner of the 2020 Furphy Literary Award junior & youth category will be announced in July 2020 and published on www.furphyliteraryaward.com.au
Junior Short Story
Age Up to 12 years old
Word limit 2000 words
Production Handwritten or typed
Subject / Theme Any subject
1st Prize $300
2nd Prize $100
3rd Prize $50
Junior / Youth Category General conditions of entry
1. Entrants must meet the age requirement at the time of submission.
2. Junior & Youth entrants must be current Australian residents and live or attend a school within the Goulburn Valley - specifically within Greater Shepparton City Council, Moira, Strathbogie, Mitchell, Murrindindi or Campaspe Shires.
3. Writing may be works of fiction or narrative non-fiction.
4. All submissions must be written in English and must be the original, previously unpublished work of the entrant. Publication includes paid publication or any type of online publication.
5. Junior entries can be typed or hand written (and scanned) and must be uploaded or as otherwise directed by 5.00pm Thursday 30th April 2020 via the following link – www.furphyliteraryaward.com.au
6. Youth entries must be typed and must be uploaded or as otherwise directed by 5.00pm Thursday 30th April 2020 via the following link – www.furphyliteraryaward.com.au
7. More than one entry may be submitted by each entrant.
8. Entries must not have received or be under consideration for any other awards or recognition in any other competition at the closing date for entries.
9. All entries must follow the online registration and submission process.
10. To preserve anonymity uploaded manuscripts must not contain any personal identification relating to the entrant.
11. FLA reserves the right to retain all entries, publish winning entries in newspapers and reproduce winning and shortlisted entries for loan. Copyright remains with the writer.
12. The judges reserve the right to reject entries over specified word limits.
13. The judge’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
14. Finalists only will be notified.
15. The winner of the 2020 Furphy Literary Award junior & youth category will be announced in July 2020 and published on www.furphyliteraryaward.com.au
Youth Short Story
Age 13 – 18 years old
Word limit 3000 words
Production Typed
Subject / Theme Any Subject
1st Prize $300
2nd Prize $100
3rd Prize $50
Junior / Youth Category General conditions of entry
1. Entrants must meet the age requirement at the time of submission.
2. Junior & Youth entrants must be current Australian residents and live or attend a school within the Goulburn Valley - specifically within Greater Shepparton City Council, Moira, Strathbogie, Mitchell, Murrindindi or Campaspe Shires.
3. Writing may be works of fiction or narrative non-fiction.
4. All submissions must be written in English and must be the original, previously unpublished work of the entrant. Publication includes paid publication or any type of online publication.
5. Junior entries can be typed or hand written (and scanned) and must be uploaded or as otherwise directed by 5.00pm Thursday 30th April 2020 via the following link – www.furphyliteraryaward.com.au
6. Youth entries must be typed and must be uploaded or as otherwise directed by 5.00pm Thursday 30th April 2020 via the following link – www.furphyliteraryaward.com.au
7. More than one entry may be submitted by each entrant.
8. Entries must not have received or be under consideration for any other awards or recognition in any other competition at the closing date for entries.
9. All entries must follow the online registration and submission process.
10. To preserve anonymity uploaded manuscripts must not contain any personal identification relating to the entrant.
11. FLA reserves the right to retain all entries, publish winning entries in newspapers and reproduce winning and shortlisted entries for loan. Copyright remains with the writer.
12. The judges reserve the right to reject entries over specified word limits.
13. The judge’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
14. Finalists only will be notified.
15. The winner of the 2020 Furphy Literary Award junior & youth category will be announced in July 2020 and published on www.furphyliteraryaward.com.au
Youth Poetry
Age 13 – 18 years old
Word limit 30 lines
Production Typed
Subject / Theme Any subject
1st Prize $300
2nd Prize $100
3rd Prize $50