IP Picks

Our National Writing Competition for Unpublished Manuscripts

Now looking ahead to its tenth year in 2011 the IP Picks Awards provide guaranteed royalty publication to the best book-length manuscript in five categories: Best Fiction, Best Creative Non-fiction, Best Poetry, Best Junior Fiction or Non-fiction, Best First Book.

Results of IP Picks 2010 are now online in IP eNews45

First Place Winners of each category are awarded pulication. Highly Commended entrants are given a short reader's report valued at $249, offering editorial advice on how to improve the manuscript. Commended entrants will receive a summary of the judging panel's report on their entries. There is no guarantee of publication for Highly Commended or Commended entrants.

The competition is open to citizens and residents of Australia and New Zealand.

The Fiction category is for manuscripts up to 80,000 words and can include short story collections, short novels and novels written for young adults and/or adults. Any form of fiction is eligible, including science fiction and fantasy.

The Creative Non-fiction category is also for manuscripts up to 80,000 words based on real-life experience and research, but written with literary flair. Biographies, memoirs, travel literature, histories, creative non-fiction for young adults and inspirational self-help books are examples.

New this year, the Junior Fiction and Non-fiction category seeks manuscripts up to 60,000 words. Novels or creative non-fiction works intended for audiences twelve and under are welcome. Picture books are not eligible.

The Poetry category is for complete collections in any sub-genre, including verse novels, verse plays, special forms such as haiku, or a a mixture of forms, minimum 48 A4 pages.

The Best First Book can be in any genre (Young Adult and older), but the author must not have previously had a book-length manuscript (48 A5 pages or longer) published by a recognised national publisher. Authors who have self-published with only local distribution are eligible to enter under this category. There is no age restriction, but if you are under eighteen years of age, you must have a parent or carer co-sign your entry form.

You may enter a single manuscript in two categories, but you have to pay two entry fees.

How Is It Judged?

IP Picks entries are adjudicated in-house by our Editorial Board.

Each entry is blind read by at least two judges. The judges first form a long-list of entries through a ranking system adjudicated by our genre editors. Next, the Board compares entries on their lists and compiles a short list from the rankings. The short-listed entries are read again by the Board, which, at that stage, includes the Director. Finally the Board meets to decide the winners and commended entries. At that meeting, the Board may also recommend that the Director offer publication to certain of the commended entries.

We then contact the winners and commended entrants and post the results on our website in IP eNews, our online newsletter, as well as circulating the results to all State writers centres.

Deadlines and Fees

IP.Picks opens on 1 October and closes on 1 December each year. Entry packages must include
   • two printed copies and one digital (on CD or floppy disk) copy of the entry (if you are entering in more than one category, you only need to submit two printed copies and one digital copy to cover both categories).
   • a completed entry form - type or print in block letters
   • the applicable fee

Download the required Conditions and Entry form in Word format or as a pdf file for further details on the submission procedure and to enter the competition. If you have trouble downloading the form [Adobe Acrobat Reader® required], email us for a copy, or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to IP, Treetop Studio, 9 Kuhler Court, Carindale 4152.

We charge a reading fee, currently set at $66 per entry. This must be included as a cheque or money order, with your entry. Included in the reading fee is an IP title of your choice. If you enter more than one category, you must pay a fee for each entry, and for that you receive an extra title of your choice.

At the time of submission you may also ask to have a short report written on the publishability of your manuscript. The discounted fee for that report is $199 GST-inclusive, or $169 for students or concession card holders (must provide photocopy of student card or concession card).

Winners

Olwyn Conrau The Importance of Being Cool		Best Creative Non-Fiction 2010
Daniel King Memento Mori		Best Fiction 2010
Lynn Reeves Designs on the Body		Best Poetry 2010
James Laidler Taste of Apple		Best First Book 2010
Juliet Blair Arlo and the Spindrift Connection		Best Junior Prose
Josh Donellan A Beginner's Guide to Dying in India		Best Fiction 2009
Nadine Neumann Wobbles		Best Creative Non-Fiction 2009
Lorraine McGuigan Wings of the Same Bird		Best Poetry 2009
Jessica Webster The Secret Stealer		Best First Book 2009
Jim Brigginshaw Over My Dead Body
Ann Jones Put the Billy On		Best Creative Non-Fiction 2008
Lia Hills the possibility of flight		Best Poetry 2008
E A Gleeson in between the dancing		Best First Book 2008
Sylvia Petter Back Burning		Best Fiction 2007
Chris Dowding A Few Drops Short of a Pint		Best Creative Non-Fiction 2007
Mark O'Flynn What Can Be Proven		Best Poetry 2007
Jan Dean With One Brush		Best First Book 2007
Bill Collopy The House of Given		Best Fiction 2006
Dr Nigel Turvey Terania Creek: Rainforest Wars		Best Creative Non-fiction 2006
Paul Dawson Imagining Winter		Best Poetry 2006
Michelle Cahill The Accidental Cage		Best First Book 2006
Geoffrey Gates A Ticket for Perpetual Locomotion		Best Fiction 2005
Tilly Brasch No Middle Name		Best Creative Non-Fiction 2005
Joel Deane Subterranean Radio Songs		Best Poetry 2005
Cate Kennedy Joyflight		Best Poetry 2004 [co-winner]
Joel Deane Another		Best Fiction 2004
Nora Krouk Skin for Comfort		Best Poetry 2004 [co-winner]
Paul Mitchell minorphysics		Best Poetry 2003 [open]
Liam Guilar I’ll Howl Before You Bury Me		Best Poetry 2003 [Qld]
Sally Finn Fine Salt		Best Fiction 2002 [open]
Lesley Singh Cry Ma Ma to the Moon		Best Fiction 2002 [Qld]
Brett Dionysius Bacchanalia		Best Poetry 2002