Young Tasmanian Writers' Prize 2025
The Young Tasmanian Writers’ Prize is a short fiction competition open to Tasmanians enrolled in Years 7-12 at schools that are current members of TATE and home-schooled students.
Sponsored by Forty South Publishing, with the generous support of the Tasmanian Association for the Teaching of English (TATE), with prizes donated by City of Hobart, Jane Franklin Hall, and Fullers Bookshop.
Supported by the Hobart City of Literature.
Prizes: Winner of each section receives The Lord Mayor's Prize ($300 Senior, $200 Junior); Two runners up of each section receive a $30 Fullers Bookshop gift voucher; The Jane Franklin Hall Prose Award (Senior Section $200, Junior Section $100).
Winning stories will be posted online in the Young Tasmania section of fortysouth.com.au. All finalists' stories will be published in Up and Coming 2025, a paperback anthology co-sponsored by Forty South Publishing and TATE.
Winners will be announced by The Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor of Hobart, Councillor Anna Reynolds at an event hosted by the City of Hobart on World Literacy Day, 8 September 2025. All finalists, judges, school representatives and guests will be invited.
Winners' schools each receive a one-year subscription to Forty South Tasmania print magazine.
YOUNG TASMANIAN WRITERS’ PRIZE 2025
Entries are now open - competition closes at midnight Wednesday July 28th, 2025
Junior Section (Years 7-9), Length: 700-1,000 words
Choose one of the following to play a key role in your story: City, Suburb, Town, Country
Senior Section (Years 10-12), Length: 800-1,500 words
Choose one of the following themes: Connect, Interconnect, Disconnect, Reconnect
How to Enter
1. Read the Terms and Conditions
2. Buy your entry via the online bookshop
3. Submit your entry via the electronic form
JUDGES
Senior Section: Lyndon Riggall
Lyndon Riggall is a writer and teacher from Launceston. He is the author of the picture books Becoming Ellie, illustrated by Graeme Whittle, and Tamar the Thief, illustrated by Grace Roberts. Alongside Georgie Todman, he is also co-president of the Tamar Valley Writers Festival. He can be found at http://www.lyndonriggall.com or on social media @lyndonriggall.
Junior Section: Blake Nuto
Blake Nuto is an internationally published author living in lutruwita (Tasmania). He is the author of ‘Child of Galaxies’ (2020), ‘A Day That’s Ours’ (2022) and ‘When You’re A Boy’ (2023). His books have received numerous nominations including The Tasmanian Literary Awards, The Ezra Jack Keats Award, The Kate Greenaway Medal and was shortlisted in The Klaus Flugge Prize, CBCA and Queensland Literary Awards. His books have been translated in multiple languages. When he is not making picture books, he is often wandering in the bush or gardening. He is also an educator and winner of the Teacher Category for Poem Forest (2024).
The Jane Franklin Hall Prose Award (Senior and Junior Section): Nick Brodie
Dr Nick Brodie is the Dean of Academic Studies at Jane Franklin Hall, a residential college for university students in Hobart. Trained in history and archaeology, Nick has written numerous books and articles and regularly appears on radio and television.
Shortlist Selection: Rayne Allinson
Dr Rayne Allinson is Assistant Publisher at Forty South Publishing and Reading Group Coordinator at Fullers Bookshop.
