Tim Winton Award for Young Writers

The City of Subiaco proudly presents the 26th annual Tim Winton Award for Young Writers. This creative writing award is open to Western Australian school students and encourages imagination, innovation and creativity. Sign up here to stay up to date with award information and reminders. 

Download the 2018 award posters.

Page index

• 2018 award information
• Terms and conditions of entry
• Read the 2017 winning stories
• About Tim Winton
• Subscribe to the award e-newsletter

Entry requirements

The Tim Winton Award is open to Western Australian school students in years one to twelve. Stories submitted must be an original piece of prose writing, no more than 2000 words in length. Entries must be the sole work of the entrant.

Entries may be accepted from individuals or from teachers on behalf of their students. Entry is limited to one per person. 

Judging
The award is judged by a panel of local authors, educators and librarians. Entries are judged individually in the following school year categories:

Lower primary – school years one and two 
Middle primary – school years three and four 
Upper primary – school years five and six 
Lower secondary – school years seven, eight and nine
Upper secondary – school years ten, eleven and twelve

This is a creative writing competition and entries are judged on the originality of the themes, the development of the story and the quality (not quantity) of the writing. 
 
Please note: due to the high number of entries received for this award each year, individual feedback cannot be provided. 

How to enter

The online entry form will be available from 9am on Tuesday 5 June. All entries must be registered online and stories submitted either online, or to Subiaco Library. Entries close at 4pm on Monday 25 June. 

To submit your story electronically, upload your entry at the time of registration. To submit a physical copy of your story, print and attached your registration confirmation, and submit with your story to Subiaco Library or via post to:

Tim Winton Award
City of Subiaco
PO Box 270
SUBIACO WA 6904

All submissions must be received by 4pm on Monday 24 June. Late entries cannot be accepted. 
Please note: due to the high number of entries received for this award each year, stories cannot be returned. Please ensure you keep a copy of your entry.

Frequently asked questions
For further award information, download the frequently asked questions (PDF 463KB) document.

Terms and conditions of entry

Public use of entries

By entering this award you acknowledge that your entry may be used in City of Subiaco publications and for future promotion of the award. Entries may also be displayed at Subiaco Library and other venues around the city and published on the city’s website. The title of the entry and author’s name will always be acknowledged with the entry when it is used. 

Prizes
Prizes are donated from the City of Subiaco and award sponsors and are presented to the top three entries in each category. The Tim Winton Award for Outstanding Achievement will be awarded to the best overall story across all categories. Winning stories will be on display for one month at Subiaco Library and published online.

The city would like to acknowledge the generous support of award patron Tim Winton and our valued sponsors Janet Holmes à Court AC, Kool Kreative, New Edition Bookshop, Dymocks Subiaco, Subiaco Bookshop and The Lane Bookshop.

Read the award-winning stories

To read a copy of the finalists' stories download the stories online:

• Lower primary category finalists

• Middle primary category finalists

• Upper primary category finalists

• Lower secondary category finalists

• Upper secondary category finalists

About Tim Winton

Tim was born in Western Australia, where he still resides, and is the author of over twenty-nine books, including novels, short stories, non-fiction and books for children. Tim decided he wanted to be a writer at the age of ten. Today a world-class author, he is a fine example and inspiration for all young writers.

Four times winner of the Miles Franklin Award and twice shortlisted for the Booker Prize, Tim’s work continues to be critically admired and loved by readers around the world. Tim has a passion for theatre and debuted as a playwright in 2011. In 2013 the Black Swan State Theatre Company performed his third play, Shrine. 

Most of his novels have been adapted for stage and screen, and the movie version of his number one bestseller Breath, directed by Simon Baker, will be released this year. Listed as a Living Treasure by the National Trust, Tim has long been active in the environmental and social justice spaces. Tim's latest novel, The Shepherd's Hut was released in March of this year.
Publications:
The quality of entries in the award has been recognised by the publication of three compilation books:

• Destination Unknown (Fremantle Press, 2001)

• Life Bytes (Fremantle Press, 2002)

• Hatched (Fremantle Press, 2013). 

Hatched: Celebrating twenty years of the Tim Winton Award for Young Writers features the overall winning story from each year of the award from 1993 to 2012. It features cover art by Shaun Tan and showcases the talent and range of young Western Australian Writers.

Award patron Tim Winton said: ‘It’s a great pleasure to see young people exercising their storytelling instincts. During the twenty years in which the award has been given in my name I’ve had the privilege of witnessing this stubborn, lovely impulse as it lives on in a new generation. Whether they’re writing feverish fantasy or gritty realism these young writers are coming to terms with their language and their lives, using stories to shape or unpack what they know and what they fear and what they hope for.’

Hatched can be purchased from leading booksellers and Fremantle Press.

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