We are so excited to announce the longlist for the inaugural Speculate Prize for Emerging Writers, in partnership with RMIT University!

The Speculate Prize for Emerging Writers is a literary prize open to Australian emerging writers studying at TAFE or university who are keen to share short work that speaks to the otherness, complexity and expansiveness of ‘speculation’ through literature in either content, genre or form.

Congratulations to the fifteen longlisted writers!

Amalie Stone – No one is alone

Andrea Green – The Guardian

Bodie Van Den Berg – Terra Inkognita

Clio Davidson-Lynch – Undergrowth

Emma Rayward – An economy of tubes

Joseph Graziani – Ogre

Joseph Lucas – The Gargantuan

Kate Alfano – Rats and Dogs

Lily Davidson – Honey

Melissa King – The Bungalow

Natalie Sprite – The Culling

Sarah Grant – For having teeth

Sophia/Dorian Zikic – Cybermigration

Will Moss – Spider Egg

The winner of the Speculate Prize for Emerging Writers will receive $1,500 prize money inclusive of $250 stipend towards a week-long writing residency at the RMIT McCraith House on the Mornington Peninsula, a free full pass to the 2025 National Writers’ Conference run by Emerging Writers’ Festival, as well as a free Festival Pass for all performance events at the 2025 Emerging Writers’ Festival. The winning piece will also receive digital publication with Emerging Writers’ Festival.

In addition to a winner, one highly commended entry will win $250 prize money, as well as a free full pass to the 2025 National Writers’ Conference, and one free Festival Pass for all performance events at the 2025 Emerging Writers’ Festival.

The shortlist for the Speculate Prize will be announced in the coming months. Follow EWF on our socials and join our newsletter community to be the first to hear the news.