Our
National Writing Competition for Unpublished Manuscripts
Now looking ahead to its seventh year in 2008, the IP Picks
Awards provide guaranteed royalty publication to the best book-length
manuscript
in four categories: Best Fiction, Best
Creative Non-fiction, Best
Poetry, Best
First Book.
The Fiction category is for manuscripts up
to 80,000 words and can include short story collections, short novels and
novels written for young adults
and adults. Any form of fiction is eligible, including science fiction
and fantasy.
Creative Non-fiction is based on real-life experience and research, but
written with literary flair. Biographies, memoirs, travel literature, histories
and inspirational self-help books are examples.
The Poetry category is for complete
collections in any sub-genre, including verse novels, verse plays, special
forms such as haiku, or a mixture of forms.
The Best First Book can be in any genre (Young
Adult and older), but the author must not have previously had a book-length
manuscript (48 A5 pages or longer) published
by a recognised
national
publisher.
Authors who have only self-published are eligible to enter under this category.
There is no age restriction, but if you are under eighteen years of age,
you must have a parent or carer co-sign your entry form.
You may enter a single manuscript in two categories, but you have to pay
two entry fees.
How
Is It Judged?
IP Picks entries are adjudicated in-house by our Editorial
Board.
Each entry is read by at least two judges. The judges first form
a long-list of entries through a ranking system adjudicated by our genre
editors. Next, the Board compares entries on their lists and compiles a
short list from the rankings. The short-listed entries are read again by
the Board, which, at that stage, includes the Director. Finally the Board
meets to decide the winners and commended entries. At that meeting, the
Board may also recommend that the Director offer publication to certain
of the commended entries.
We then contact the winners and commended entrants and post the results
on our website in IP eNews, our online newsletter, as well as circulating
the results to all State writers centres.
Deadlines and Fees
IP.Picks opens on 1 October and closes on 1 December each year. Entry packages
must include
• two printed copies and one digital (on CD or
floppy disk) copy of the entry
• a completed entry form
• the applicable fee
Download the required Conditions and Entry form in Word format or as a pdf file for
further details on the submission
procedure and to enter the competition. If you have trouble downloading the form
[Adobe Acrobat
Reader® required], email us for
a copy, or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to IP, Treetop
Studio, 9 Kuhler Court, Carindale 4152.
We charge a reading fee, currently set at $60, per entry. This must be included
as a cheque or money order, with your entry. Included in the reading fee is an
IP title of your choice. If you enter more than one category, you must pay a
fee for each entry, and for that you receive an extra title of your choice.
Entrants who do not win or get commended can subsequently ask to have
a short report written on the publishability of their manuscript. The fee
for that
report
is $210 GST-inclusive, or $160 for students or concession
card holders (must provide photocopy of student card or concession card).
