Woollahra Digital Literary Award

Fiction ($2,500 prize)
A short story, short story collection, novella or novel - published in the first instance online or in an electronic format that can be accessed on a computer, tablet or mobile device. Novella or short story entries, 2,000-30,000 words. Longer works will be considered for judging, but the work may not be read by judges in its entirety during the initial judging period, unless work is deemed of a high literary standard and is considered in the running for longlisting for the Fiction Award.

Non-Fiction ($2,500 prize)
A monograph, collection of essays or a longform essay - published in the first instance online or in an electronic format that can be accessed on a computer, tablet or mobile device. 2,000-30,000 words. Longer digital monographs will be considered for judging, but the work may not be read by judges in it’s entirety during the initial judging period, unless work is deemed of a high literary standard and is considered in the running for longlisting for the Non-Fiction Award.

Poetry ($1,000 prize)
Works of poetry published in the first instance online or in an electronic format that can be accessed on a computer, tablet or mobile device. Video and multimedia poems accepted, as well as text-based poetry that has been published online in the first instance. Maximum word count is 3,000 words. There is no minimum word count. 

Digital Innovation ($1,500 prize)
Works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry (or a hybrid of these) published in the first instance online or in an electronic format that can be accessed on a computer, tablet or mobile device. This is a professional writing category where digital technology is used in an innovative way to enhance written storytelling. We are looking for works that seamlessly integrate digital elements in the story in a new and dynamic way to generate mood, tone and genre.

Entries can solely be entered into the Digital Innovation Category if they don't easily meet the criteria for Fiction, Non-Fiction or Poetry (above).

The Readers’ Choice Award is an additional prize of $250 that is offered once the shortlist is announced. This Award invites everyone in the community to read the shortlist and cast a vote for their favourite entry.

Judges for the 2026 Woollahra Digital Literary Award will be announced soon.

Judging Opportunities 

If you are interested in being considered as a judge in the future, please complete our Expression of Interest form and include the following:

• Contact details
• Statement of suitability as a literary judge (no more than 3,000 characters)
• Curriculum vitae (no more than 1 page)
• Reference(s)
• Recent Photo for promotional purposes if appointed

Submit a Judge EOI

The Woollahra Digital Literary Award is open to all Australian Residents aged 16 years and over, who have published work online in the first instance in last two years.

Submitted works must be available online as: .epub, .mobi/azw, .ibooks or .pdf file from a known e-book vendor or platform (such as iBookstore, Google Play, Amazon, Bookworld, Kobo, Baker & Taylor or Overdrive), or as a multimedia piece, story, article, essay or poetry available on a blog, online magazine, journal or website that has an editorial selection process.

Please note: Entrants must provide a URL to the web location where digital work can be accessed as proof of publication. It is the responsibility of each entrant to provide a working URL. Only works that were published in a digital format in the first instance will be accepted for judging.

Check the conditions of entry and frequently asked questions.

We are currently accepting contributions and partnership proposals for the 2025 Woollahra Digital Literary Award. For information on levels of support and reciprocal benefits, please review our Award Sponsorship Package(PDF, 6MB) . 

Woollahra Libraries operates under the Council’s Donations and Sponsorship Policy(PDF, 673KB).