We are pleased to announce that our merit award for graduates, the FWA ALUMNI AWARD is open again this year. The award is open to graduates of our 2023 – 2026 Writing a Novel, Stay the Course, Edit & Submit Your Novel, and Advanced Novel Workshop programs.
The award will offer two outstanding submission-ready graduates the opportunity to pitch their novels at two industry days: an industry day organised by the Faber Academy, UK, in July and an Australian industry day organised by FWA in October 2026. Recipients will also have the opportunity to submit a cover letter and have the first five pages of their manuscript read by one of Allen & Unwin’s publishers.
This is an exciting opportunity in which Faber Writing Academy is committed to providing our most exceptional students three opportunities to advance their manuscripts towards publication.
The award will be judged by the FWA team.
Applications for the award open on 2 June, close on 30 June, and winners will be announced in mid-July.
View the Conditions of Entry below and apply via the online form.
Conditions of Entry
- Information on how to enter and the award form part of these Conditions of Entry.
- The Promoter is Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd (A.B.N 79 003 994 278) of 83 Alexander Street, Crows Nest, NSW 2065.
- Entries must be the first three chapters, to a maximum of 10,000 words, of a completed full-length adult or young adult novel. Please be sure you have proof-read your entire manuscript before entering and have it ready to send to agents and publishers should they request it.
- Entrants must also submit a one-page cover letter and 500-word synopsis of their novels.
- Manuscripts must be formatted in Times New Roman, 12pt font, 1.5-2x line spacing.
- Opening and closing dates for entries are as follows:
| Submissions Open | Submissions Close | Announcement |
| June 2 | June 30 | Mid-July |
- Entrants must be Australian or New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.
- Entrants must have graduated from one of the following Faber Writing Academy courses in Australia between 2023 – 2025: Writing a Novel; Edit & Submit Your Novel; Advanced Novel Workshop; Stay the Course.
- The full manuscript, which may be requested at any time, must be a minimum length of 60,000 words and a maximum of 120,000 words.
- The full manuscript, and the three-chapter/ 10,000 word submission, must be an original work, entirely by the entrant and it must be written in English.
- The winners must not have signed a contract with a publisher or agent. If entrants sign with an agent or publisher after submitting, they must contact the Faber Writing Academy and ask to be withdrawn.
- No more than 10% of the full manuscript can have been previously published in print form, or in electronic form, on a commercial basis.
- Two winners will be announced.
- The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
- If, in the judges’ opinion, no entry is worthy of the award, no winner shall be chosen. No entrant may win the award in successive years.
- The two winners will be told in strict confidence the month following submission, at which time the winners must agree to keep this news absolutely confidential until the announcement of each round of the award.
- The winners will have the opportunity to pitch to UK agents at an industry day organised by Faber Academy, UK, the details of which will be provided in due course.
- The winners will have their cover letter and the first five pages of their manuscript read by one of Allen & Unwin’s publishers.
- The winners will have the opportunity to pitch to Australian agents and publishers at an industry day organised by Faber Writing Academy, the details of which will be provided in due course.
- Each entrant is required to agree to the above conditions of entry.
- Breach of any conditions of entry will render an entry invalid.
- The Faber Writing Academy and Allen & Unwin shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever which is suffered (including but not limited to indirect or consequential loss) or for personal injury which is suffered or sustained, as a result of entering or receiving the award, except for any liability which cannot be excluded by law.
- The Faber Writing Academy and Allen & Unwin collect entrants’ personal information in order to conduct the promotion. If the information requested is not provided, the entrant may not participate in the promotion. Allen & Unwin respects your privacy and non-essential data will not be collected. Your personal details will only be used for the purpose of this promotion unless you nominate otherwise. An Allen & Unwin Privacy Statement is available online at www.allenandunwin.com. A request to access, update or correct any information should be directed to the Promoter at the address set out above.
Submission process
- To enter, applicants are required to submit the first three chapters, to a maximum of 10,000 words, of their completed manuscript, a one-page cover letter and 500-word synopsis and fill in the entry form via the following link: https://faberwritingacademy.wufoo.com/forms/x1w660ed0nmgpiy/