EWF is proud to announce Melissa King’s The Bungalow as the winner of the inaugural Speculate Prize for Emerging Writers, presented in partnership with RMIT University.
The Speculate Prize for Emerging Writers is a developmental 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.
‘On behalf of the team at the Emerging Writers’ Festival, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Melissa King, winner of the inaugural Speculate Prize. Melissa’s winning story, The Bungalow, is extraordinary in its ability to merge speculative, fantastical storytelling with the stark, truthful realities of contemporary life. Beautiful, comedic, dark and transportive, The Bungalow was unanimously a highlight for the judges and readers of the Speculate Prize, and we are so excited for Melissa to embark on a week-long writing residency at the RMIT McCraith House on the Mornington Peninsula. EWF looks forward to following your writing journey beyond this huge achievement, Melissa — see you in September at the festival!’
-Jess Zanoni, Artistic Director of the Emerging Writers’ Festival
As the winner of the Speculate Prize for Emerging Writers, Melissa King receives $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.
‘I am thrilled and delighted to have The Bungalow chosen as the 2025 Speculate Prize winner. I have loved stories about ghosts, aliens and robots since I was a young child, and began writing spooky short stories on my grandmother’s old typewriter when I was in primary school. I have dreamed of becoming an author ever since.
-Melissa King on winning the inaugural Speculate Prize for Emerging Writers
I have not felt confident to show my writing to anyone until quite recently, so I was excited to learn of a competition devoted to speculative writing. Being announced as the winner is a huge honour and boost to my confidence. It inspires me to keep writing and submitting work for publication, and I’m stoked to learn that the judges enjoyed my story enough to select it as the winner.
I am currently working on two projects- my first science-fiction/horror novel, and a crime fiction novella, which are both set in coastal towns, so the opportunity to spend a week in-residence at McCraith House is an absolute dream come true. I can’t wait to see what kind of inspiration comes to me in that gorgeous beach-side setting; the location couldn’t be more perfect!
As the icing on the cake, the prize money will bring my daughter and I a little closer to our dream of saving a deposit for our own home, so this will make a tremendous difference.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in making this unique and exciting competition happen.’
Read Melissa King’s winning piece, The Bungalow, below:
Congratulations also to Sarah Grant on her highly-commended piece, For Having Teeth.
A massive congratulations to Melissa King on winning the Speculate Prize, and the highly-commended writer Sarah Grant. Huge congratulations, as well, to all those who submitted and were listed for this inaugural Prize, presented in partnership with RMIT University.
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