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The Overland Victoria University Short Story Prize for New and Emerging Writers
Subcategory of Awards Australian Awards
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History

The Overland Victoria University Short Story Prize aims to discover the finest in original short fiction by Australian and New Zealand writers who have not yet published a book with commercial distribution. With a $6000 first prize and two runner-up prizes of $1000, the award is the most lucrative of its kind in both countries. All winning stories are published in Overland magazine.  

Notes

  • Presented in conjunction with Victoria University, this is an annual competition intended to encourage new writing.

Latest Winners / Recipients

Year: 2019

winner Water Bodies Joyce Chew , 2019 single work short story
— Appears in: Overland , Spring no. 236 2019;

Year: 2018

winner How to Disappear into Yourself (in 8 Steps) Katerina Gibson , 2018 single work short story
— Appears in: Overland , Spring no. 232 2018;

'You are: stiff lines, hard colours, corporate setting. Pleats ironed, turtle neck immaculate, hair pulled back. You are: an intern, savvy, eyes-bright, tail-bushed.' (Introduction)

Year: 2017

winner Breeding Season Amanda Niehaus , 2017 single work short story
— Appears in: Overland , Spring vol. 228 no. 2017; (p. 26-30)

'It's pre-dawn, all dark. Breeding season. Elise wakes just before her alarm goes off, skin sharp in the cold air. She tugs the blankets back across her body, curls her knees in and lets herself - for a moment - think of Dan asleep at home in Brisbane, long limbs spidered into all the corners of their bed. In her mind, she sits across from him and kiss-counts the freckles on his shoulder. On his nose. His beard tickles her chin. He exhales warm air through his damp gap mouth and he will never know it, how she runs her hand across his clavicle, sternum, ribs as he sleeps; how she traces the lines of his wrist and hip where the flesh is thinnest, where she might so easily push in.' (Introduction)

Year: 2016

winner Broad Hatchet Julia Tulloh Harper , 2016 single work short story
— Appears in: Overland , Spring no. 224 2016; (p. 28-33) Award Winning Australian Writing 2017 2017; (p. 197-205)

Year: 2015

winner Their Cruel Routines Barry Lee Thompson , 2015 single work short story
— Appears in: Overland , Summer no. 221 2015; (p. 32-37)

Works About this Award

Overland VU Short Story Prize for New and Emerging Writers : Judges Notes Enza Gandolfo , Frank Moorhouse , Rachael McGuirk , Ian See , 2017 single work prose
— Appears in: Overland , Spring vol. 228 no. 2017; (p. 25)

'800 stories were submitted for consideration this year, many exploring the politics of this decade. After six weeks we decided on a shortlist of ten impressive examples of the contemporary short story, which included this years three finalists.' (Introduction)

Victoria University Prize Jennifer Mills , Alison Whan , Jacinda Woodhead , 2016 single work column
— Appears in: Overland , Spring no. 224 2016; (p. 26-27)
'The article discusses the Overland Victoria University Short Story Prize for 2016 and mentions winning story for the prize "Broad Hatchet" by Julia Tulloh Harper.' (Publication abstract)
Shortlist for the 2016 VU Short Story Prize 2016 single work column
— Appears in: Overland [Online] , August 2016;
Overland Victoria University Short Story Prize Jennifer Mills , 2014 single work essay
— Appears in: Overland , Summer no. 217 2014; (p. 22-23)
'The article offers the author's insight on the 2014 Victoria University Short Story Prize by the periodical "Overland," in which entries were read blind by the judges including her, "Overland" editor Jeff Sparrow, and deputy editor Jacinda Woodhead. She discusses the diversity in content of short-listed stories. She identifies a number of common mistakes made by the entrants including the lack of understanding of tension and imagery, and structural experimentation.' (Publication abstract)
The Overland Victoria University Short Story Prize for New and Emerging Writers Jennifer Mills , 2012 single work essay
— Appears in: Overland , Summer no. 209 2012; (p. 38-39)
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