Conditions of Entry

This award recognises and celebrates the best new contemporary literature in Australia, highlighting innovative and forward-looking writers and publishers.

Eligibility

  1. The Woollahra Digital Literary Award invites submissions of digital-first poetry, fiction and non-fiction for consideration for the 2026 Awards.
  2. There are 3 categories for published work: Poetry, Fiction and Non-Fiction.  In addition, works in progress containing innovative digital elements intended for future publication in a digital format can be entered in the Digital Innovation category.
  3. These are the formats required for entry: an .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 a live URL from a blog, online magazine, journal or website with an editorial selection process.
  4. If you have submitted work to an online journal, website or a digital platform run by an individual or group who makes careful and considered decisions about what work is published, your entry will be eligible for judging. This is a prize for professional writers that recognises the high quality of writing published digitally.
  5. Shortlisted applications are strongly encouraged to provide permission for entered work to be made available in Woollahra Libraries E-Content Management Platform, used for the hosting, circulation and digital rights management of e-content to Authorised Library Users.
  6. Poetry submissions are capped at 3,000 words. Fiction and Non-Fiction submissions are capped at 30,000 words with a minimum of 2,000 words required. Longer works will be considered if a sample of 1-2 chapters can be provided for judging. There is no cap for submissions in the Digital Innovation category.
  7. Longer works will be considered for judging, but the work in it’s entirety may not be read by judges during the initial judging period, unless work is deemed of a high literary standard and is in the running for longlisting for the Award.
  8. If the work entered has been published to an online journal or website, applicants must include contact details for an editor or publisher with their submission. Editors of shortlisted works may be contacted for verification.
  9. Entries accepted for selection must be the original work of the submitting author(s), must not have been submitted for entry to the Woollahra Digital Literary Award before, and in the case of entries into the Poetry, Fiction and Non-Fiction categories must have been published in a digital format in the first instance or simultaneously with a print publication after the date 30 May 2024.
  10. Digital Innovation entries accepted for selection must be the original work of the submitting author, must rely on human creativity, and must not have been previously published in the proposed digital format.  The Digital Innovation category is for works that are in development, but not yet published.
  11. Entries must be written primarily in English, be an original translation into English or provide an original translation into English alongside the original language.
  12. Entries accepted for selection must be submitted by authors that are over 16 years of age and are current Australian Residents.
  13. All entries must be submitted electronically, via a live URL or in PDF format.
  14. Entries will be judged to select, in the opinion of the judges, the best entry in the following four categories:
    • Fiction ($2,500)
    • Non Fiction ($2,500)
    • Poetry ($1,000)
    • Digital Innovation ($1,500)
  15. The decision of the judges is final. The Woollahra Digital Literary Award recognises literary merit. The judges reserve the right to not award a prize in any particular category if entries are deemed of not a high enough standard to receive recognition in any given year
  16. Entrants may submit work to multiple categories, but only one entry can be submitted by each entrant in the Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry and Digital Innovation categories. A separate entry form must be completed for each entry. If a winning entry has been submitted by multiple authors, the prize money awarded is awarded per entry (not per author).
  17. Winners for the 2026 Woollahra Digital Literary Award will be announced at an award presentation at Woollahra Libraries - Double Bay, Sydney NSW on Wednesday 4 November 2026.
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