Scribe Publications and Express Media are pleased to announce the shortlist for The 2016 Scribe Nonfiction Prize for Young Writers.
Now in its fourth year, the prize is a unique development award to foster talented writers aged 30 and under writing longform nonfiction work.
In 2016, entries from all over Australia covered nonfiction genres including memoir, journalism, biography, essay, and creative nonfiction. There were a record number of entries — the largest number received in the history of the prize. As such, the prize has a longer shortlist than in previous years.
The 2016 Scribe Nonfiction Prize for Young Writers shortlist is:
- Michelle Balogh, Shan-Yi
- Lech Blaine, iGrief
- Katerina Bryant, A Pig in Mud
- Emily Clements, The Lotus Eaters
- Jamie-Lee Dwyer, Zig-Zag (part two)
- Deserae Horswood, My Parents’ Ashes are in the Boot of My Car
- Anastasia Kanjere, The Lighted Door
- Anna Jacobson, How to Knit a Human
- Louise Jaques, Go Gentle
- Sam Robertson, Containing Multitudes
- Ellena Savage, Blueberries
- Ronnie Scott, Sights
- Bert Spinks, On a Hasty Journey Across Iceland
- Phoebe Tully, Let Them Eat Kale
All shortlisted writers receive an invitation to attend a private skills-development masterclass with award-winning nonfiction writers Tom Doig and Melanie Joosten, and will receive detailed feedback on their entry from the judges.
The 2016 shortlist was selected with a blind judging process by Kelsey Oldham (Nonfiction Editor, Voiceworks), Zoya Patel (Highly Commended, 2015 Scribe Nonfiction Prize), Robbie Arnott (Winner, 2014 Scribe Nonfiction Prize), Julia Carlomagno (Senior Editor, Scribe Publications) and Fiona Dunne (Creative Producer, Express Media).
‘From writing that explores science and human rights to the unquantifiable emotions of grief and mental illness, the 2016 shortlist represents fourteen young writers that show an extraordinary ability to reflect on their lives, interrogate their perspectives, and explore the world and people around them with insight and empathy,’ said Dunne.
The winner will be selected by Scribe Publications and receives a cash prize of $3000, an editorial mentorship to develop their work, and a selection of new and soon-to-be-published books tailored to their interests.
Scribe’s founder and publisher, Henry Rosenbloom, will present the winner as part of Scribe’s 40th birthday celebrations on Thursday 18 August in Melbourne. For more information on the Scribe Nonfiction Prize for Young Writers, visit expressmedia.org.au