Literature prizes
A win for the funny people: Australia’s richest writing prize adds new award
The John Clarke Prize for Humour Writing, named for the legendary late comedian, will celebrate Australia’s funniest works from 2025.
- by Meg Watson
Latest
‘Not a complete waste of time’: Novelist nabs Qld Premier’s Award again
Melissa Lucashenko has won the $30,000 prize for Edenglassie, her novel set in Brisbane.
- by Nick Dent
‘The younger sibling of horror’: thriller novel wins children’s book of the year
Author Tristan Bancks’ novel Scar Town is one of this year’s Children’s Book Council of Australia award winners.
- by Kerrie O'Brien
Alexis Wright makes history with Miles Franklin, Stella wins in same year
Wright’s novel Praiseworthy was hailed by judges as “an astonishing feat of storytelling”.
- by Jason Steger
Australia breaks eight-year Booker Prize drought
Charlotte Wood has been long-listed for Stone Yard Devotional, the first book by an Australian on the prestigious list in eight years.
- by Kerrie O'Brien
First timers and indie publishers dominate Miles Franklin shortlist
This year’s shortlist is a celebration of innovation and diversity in Australian fiction.
- by Nick Galvin
Eleven years ago, she won NSW’s most prestigious book prize. She just did it again
Ali Cobby Eckermann always wanted to be a writer. Now she’s received the highest accolade in the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards for the second time.
- by Kerrie O'Brien
Three writers named 2024 Best Young Australian Novelists
Now in its 28th year, the prize is given to an Australian writer of fiction aged 35 or under.
- by Melanie Kembrey
Dicey Topics
Good Weekend
Sexism at work made Bonnie Garmus start writing. It sold 7 million copies
The American author of Lessons in Chemistry on why her debut novel took so long – and what makes her happiest about it.
- by Benjamin Law
Tony Birch wins Book of the Year for timely novel about one of Australia’s great challenges
Birch says that while his book wasn’t written “with that issue in mind”, it had become timely given the crucial discussions under way.
- by Jason Steger
She was told her fiction wasn’t ‘Australian enough’. Then she won the Miles Franklin
Working with a “billable hours” mindset, lawyer, mum of four and author Shankari Chandran weaves sharp social justice critiques through her loving family tales.
- by Melanie Kembrey