ABC Fiction Award
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The ABC Fiction Award is an Australian literary award presented annually to the best, original, unpublished, adult fiction manuscript, written by an Australian resident over the age of 18. It was launched in 2005. The aim of the award is "to encourage emerging writers, contribute to Australian literary culture, and fulfil the ABC's charter by reflecting the diversity of the Australian community and adding to a sense of national identity".¹ The award is supported by ABC Local Radio and ABC TV.

The prize is a $10,000 advance and publication through ABC Books. The winning book is also broadcast on ABC Local Radio and published as an audio book by ABC Audio.¹ The award has four judges, three of whom change each year. It comprises ABC Books commissioning editor Jo Mackay, a fiction writer, a local ABC radio broadcaster, and someone involved in literary education or debate such as a newspaper literary editor.

Background

The award is the brainchild of the ABC Books publisher, Stuart Neal, and Jo Mackay, who were concerned about the falling sales of literary fiction.²

Jo Mackay says that they take pride in the fact that the competition, unlike most other new manuscript competitions which are geared to young writers, has no age restrictions.² Stuart Neal argues that such competitions are important. He says that "if competitions like this can unearth the next Tim Winton, for example, then there's a major economic benefit, as well as the benefit to the literary world, of unknown writers getting a go. If you don't do things like this you don't find the next hot Australian fiction writer".² However, he says that commercial potential is not a criterion used by the judges.

History

The inaugural winner was The Pilo Family Circus by Will Elliott. It went on to win the Aurealis Award for Best Novel, the Ditmar Award for Best Horror Novel and was shortlisted for the International Horror Guild Award.³ There were some 900 entries in the first year, and 300-400 entries the next two years.²

Early judges of the award included novelists Delia Falconer and Luke Davies, and literary editor of The Australian Murray Waldren.

Winners

• 2008: God for the Killing by Kain Massin⁴
• 2007: Luck in the Greater West by Damian McDonald
• 2006: The Pilo Family Circus by Will Elliott

External links

• Award Home Page

References