2016 Young Writers Award winners announced

Gold Coast teenager Anne Chen and Loganholme university student Tee Indawongse are the winners of this year’s coveted State Library of Queensland Young Writers Award.

Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy Leeanne Enoch announced the winners today at a ceremony at the State Library of Queensland.

Ms Enoch congratulated all the entrants on the quality of their work, saying the annual short story competition was a terrific launch pad for budding young Queensland writers.

“This award is an extraordinary opportunity to shine a light on their talent, and also introduce them to experienced writers who can provide valuable mentoring as they develop their craft,” Ms Enoch said.

“For most entrants this was their first tentative step towards making their voices heard and being taken seriously as a writer, and they should be congratulated for having a go and telling their stories.”

Minister Enoch said the Young Writers Award demonstrated the Queensland Government’s commitment to developing the talent and creativity of emerging young writers in Queensland.

Tee Indawongse, 22, won $2,000 and membership to the Queensland Writers Centre in the 18–25 year category for her story An Overflow of Dust, which the judges described as “insightful and imaginative writing”.

Anne Chen, 17, winner of the 15–17 year category, won an Apple iPad and membership to the Queensland Writers Centre for her story Oblivion, which judges said is “vivid and beautifully written”.

State Librarian and CEO Vicki McDonald said the State Library was proud of its long history of nurturing emerging literary talent in Queensland.

“For more than 20 years the Young Writers Award has helped kick-start the literary careers of Queensland authors, including Christopher Currie (The Ottoman Motel), Alasdair Duncan (Sushi Central), Chris Somerville (We Are Not the Same Anymore), Benjamin Law (The Family Law) and Tara June Winch (Swallow the Air),” Ms McDonald said.

Over 300 young writers from across the state, including Brisbane, Boyne Island, Cairns, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Innisfail, Mourilyan, Proserpine, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Townsville entered the competition.

The 2016 Young Writers Award winners and finalists are:

18–25 years category

Winner: Tee Indawongse, aged 22 - An Overflow of Dust

Runner-up: Chloë Reeson, aged 24 - Falls

Highly commended: Thomas FitzGerald, aged 18 - Nothing Gold Can Stay, Fletcher Quilty, aged 25 - The Salt Skin, Akanksha Singh, aged 25 - Sugar City, Sophie Walter, aged 18 - Runaway

15–17 years category

Winner: Anne Chen, aged 17 - Oblivion

Runner-up: Bella Zhong, aged 17 - Bitter Melon

Highly commended: Sophie Austin, aged 17 - The Bear on the Shelf, Grace Barker, aged 17 - Strange Place This, Jasmine Elliott, aged 15 - Street Faces, Gina Song, aged 16 - $29.50 and a Half-empty Bottle of Gin

Winning stories are available online at www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on/awards/ywa.

Photos available on request.

Media contact: Daniel Lato 0438 830 201