Australia's richest creative writing prize for university students will now be offered nationally to those studying creative writing in any postgraduate course.
The 2010 QUT Postgraduate Creative Writing Prize, worth $2000, was offered to QUT students for the first time last year, and this year is being offered around the country, QUT's Head of Creative Writing and Literary Studies, Associate Professor Sharyn Pearce, said.
"Most writing prizes in Australia and overseas are for established writers, but we wanted to give students a go," Professor Pearce said.
"We think that postgraduates make a huge commitment of time and creativity to their work and should have more chance of reward."
Entries may be in the form of a short story, creative non-fiction, a literary or professional writing essay, or poetry. Submissions are limited to 3000 words of prose, or 50 lines of poetry and are due on Friday, August 13, at 5pm.
The winners will have the opportunity to work with a top writer and editor and see their work published in the recently launched anthology Rex, which will feature 2010's best creative writing at QUT and be launched at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art.
Professor Pearce said all eligible students should consider entering the competition.
"The shortlisted authors will be able to work with an international editor attending the Brisbane Writers Festival," she said.
"I would encourage everybody to have a go.
"Some of our best writers are quite modest and don't think they are good enough."
Last year's judges were Toronto-based Random House editor Ann Collins, well-known author Alasdair Duncan and Professor Pearce as QUT representative.
Rex is available in selected book shops, and includes work by past students who have recently been published.
The 2010 QUT Undergraduate Creative Writing Prize, also worth $2000, is open to QUT undergraduate students majoring in creative writing.
For further information on entering and conditions, please follow the link to http://creativeindustries.qut.edu.au/study/areas/creative-writing-literary-studies/ or contact Professor Pearce on 07 3138 8229 or s.pearce@qut.edu.au or Craig Bolland on 07 3138 9637 or c.bolland@qut.edu.au.
Media contact: Rachael Wilson, QUT media officer, 07 3138 1150 or rachael.wilson@qut.edu.au.
