The Gloria Burley Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript
Thursday 22 February 2024
Submissions are now open for the Gloria Burley Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript.
The Festival’s Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards offers substantial cash prizes to recognise and honour outstanding contributions to the literary and design landscape.
The Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards’ mission is to spotlight the diverse talents within the Australian creative community while also paying homage to the captivating Heart Reef—a natural wonder found in the Whitsundays region.
Festival President Karen Jacobsen expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, stating “Beyond assembling some of Australia’s celebrated authors in Airlie Beach, our festival aims to celebrate and champion homegrown writing and design talent. The Heart Awards epitomise our commitment to nurturing creativity and honouring the legacy of festival founder Gloria Burley.”
“We believe in celebrating the richness of Australian creativity in all its forms. The Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards are a testament to our commitment to recognising and rewarding the extraordinary talents within our community,” remarked Karen. “What better way to recognise Gloria’s legacy than initiate a creative writers’ award named in her honour.”
Award snapshot
Applicants are encouraged to pay particular attention to the required Award submission format, requested form details, and word limit. If the format and application requirements are not met, submissions may not progress.
Prize money: First Prize receives $2,500, and Runner-Up $1,000
Submissions:
- Must be original and unpublished works of fiction written in English.
- Submit the first three chapters or approximately the first 10,000 – 12,000 words, (to a maximum of 12,000 words) of a completed manuscript. Also include a 500-word synopsis, and other details.
Eligibility: Applicants are required to be Australian citizens living in Australia or abroad, or permanent residents who reside Australia. Applicants under 18 years are eligible with permission from their parent or guardian.
Deadline: Submissions for the Gloria Burley Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript close Tuesday 30 April 2024.
Submission fee: AUD$70 plus GST