The Wulgurukaba writer has been named this year’s recipient, in recognition of her emerging voice and storytelling excellence.

‘I think originality should be one of the aims of a critic – to say something about a book or artwork that hasn’t been said before. But I also think this should be balanced against humility – the ability to acknowledge and meaningfully engage with other intelligent commentators who have opined on a subject.’

‘It’s exciting to encounter, through a memoir, a life lived in a way completely different to our own. It’s also reassuring to see our own experiences shared and reflected by others.’

Empowering emerging writers to develop their novels through mentorship, craft, and community. Writing NSW is proud to offer two scholarships for the 2026 Year of the Novel program: one for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander writer, and one for a writer from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) background. Each scholarship provides a fully […]

Check out some of the wonderful literary events happening in Sydney and around NSW (and online) this July!

‘So much of writing happens entirely alone and entirely inside our own brains… it can be very easy to lose perspective. Collaboration and community are so important because of that: they keep me sane, and often stop me from despairing. I also find collaborative projects to be really energising and sparky, and that excitement almost always bleeds into the rest of my work too.’

‘I sometimes think we forget the ‘social’ part of social media. Even when operating what essentially is a business account, it still needs to be engaging, represent you as an author, and connect with your book community.’

“I am often inspired by visiting unfamiliar places, the different sounds you hear as well as words. I suppose I was brought up in a family where language was entertainment…”

‘I see my non-fiction work as often being more advocacy-driven, often motivated by increasing understanding of particular issues or experiences, or trying to connect people through common experiences.’