Hunter Writers' Centre is thrilled to announce the shortlist of the Newcastle Short Story Award, celebrating outstanding short fiction from writers across Australia.
This year’s entries showcased a diverse range of voices, styles and themes. The judges, Pitaya Chin and Catherine McNamara, praised the entries for their originality, craft and storytelling talent, ‘Short stories require careful attention to detail, every word matters, and every sentence has a purpose. Writers have to create strong, meaningful stories in a small space. The shortlisted stories show this skill, with sharp ideas, emotional depth, and moments that stay with the reader long after finishing.’
Shortlisted Stories
Thirty-four stories have been selected for this year’s shortlist covering a wide range of voices, themes and styles that highlight the strength of contemporary Australian short fiction. These stories will be published in the Newcastle Short Story Award Anthology, offering readers the chance to experience powerful and thought-provoking work from both emerging and established Australian writers.
We are pleased to announce Catherine McNamara has been appointed as the editor of this year’s anthology.
Winner Announcement and Anthology Launch
The winners of the Newcastle Short Story Award will be announced at a celebratory event on Sunday, 6 April 2025, during the Newcastle Writers Festival. The full list of winners will be announced on the website shortly after the event
The Newcastle Short Story Award Anthology will be launched on the same day.
About the Newcastle Short Story Award
Established in 2012, the Newcastle Short Story Award has become one of Australia’s most respected short story competitions, attracting high-calibre writers and esteemed judges each year.
This award has been generously sponsored by the University of Newcastle, whose support has played a key role in fostering literary excellence and providing a platform for Australian writers to be recognised and celebrated. Their partnership has been invaluable in growing the award’s profile and impact, demonstrating the power of collaboration between educational institutions and the arts.
The award offers a first prize of $3,000, second prize of $1,500, third prize of $500, and $200 for a highly commended entry, sponsored by local award-winning brewery, FogHorn Brewery. Hunter Writers’ Centre also offer a member’s prize of $500.
2024 Newcastle Short Story Award Shortlist
|
Title of story |
Written by |
|
bait berry |
Ivy Alvarez |
|
Frank at f(urnace)8 |
Adam Brannigan |
|
Your Payment Attempt Has Been Declined |
Lachlan Buller |
|
What My Sister Told Me |
Rebecca Burton |
|
In The Balance |
Caileen Cachia |
|
The Bark of a Man |
David Chapple |
|
Wall of Words |
Bill Collopy |
|
The Summit |
Jake Dean |
|
Those Happy Campers |
Brooke Dunnell |
|
An Interview |
Matt Georgeson |
|
Alain Delon, 1966 |
Keith Goh Johnson |
|
The Try |
Kathryn Goldie |
|
The Invisible Path |
Hei Gou |
|
Boots on the ground |
Maggie Wairimu Hari |
|
Wood |
Jennifer Harrison |
|
Ne’re Clean |
Taya Holland |
|
The Nine Lives of Alistair Bannister’s Homework Book |
Christine Howe |
|
Body Parts |
Helga Jermy |
|
Suspension |
Jessica Kang |
|
The Company of Strangers |
Jennifer Kornberger |
|
Body memory |
Lisa Lang |
|
Boneyard |
Tracie Lark |
|
Gull Mother |
Jay McKenzie |
|
Regional Queensland Physics |
Steve MinOn |
|
Boogeyman |
Omar Musa |
|
Capital City Love Map |
Omar Musa |
|
Langsat |
Omar Musa |
|
One Last Flirtation |
Peter Rodgers |
|
The Rain |
Morna Seres |
|
The Saint of Salt Water |
Emily Shaw |
|
Yuppie power couple turns Coburg Motor Inn into exclusive Airbnb |
William Stanforth |
|
Blood on the Sand |
Ned Stephenson |
|
Sanctuary |
Lesley Synge |
|
Him, Next Door |
Bob Topping |
Hunter Writers' Centre serves the writers, stories and storytellers of the Hunter region.
