The Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers is a developmental award open to Australian secondary school-aged students across the nation.

The prize recognises writing excellence in three categories: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction and Poetry. Entries can include writing for readers of any age.

Entries will open June 7th, 2021, and close 11:59PM AEST August 12th, 2021.

The Prize is sponsored by Hachette Australia and administered by Express Media, Australia’s peak youth literary organisation. Shortlisted writers get the opportunity to receive mentorship from an established author. In 2021, the Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers Mentor is Danielle Binks!

The Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers gives young writers the opportunity to hone their skills under the guidance of some of Australia’s favourite authors. The Prize aims to ignite passion for creative writing and poetry in the minds of Australia’s secondary school students, and to encourage them to pursue writing and publishing opportunities inside and outside of the classroom.

• 7 June, 2021

• Entries for the 2021 Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers will open June 7th, 2021

  Have a question about the prize? Contact Jesse Oliver, Creative Producer, at [email protected]

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Teen Salon Two – Saturday August 7th

Join ELTHAMbookshop for Teen Salon 2 with three exceptional children’s and YA authors: Danielle Binks, Archie Fusillo, Wendy Orr in conversation with Robert Verhagen

Saturday August 7th 3:00 – 5:00 pm

Venue: Little Shop on the Top (above ELTHAMbookshop)

22 Commercial Place, Eltham

Entry: Single $20.00 includes one copy of the featured books or a $25.00 gift voucher, and afternoon tea.

Prepaid bookings are essential: 9439 8700

• 7 August, 2021
• 3:00 - 5:00 pm

• Little Shop on the Top (above ELTHAMbookshop) 22 Commercial Place, Eltham

• Booking info

Come celebrate the launch of Danielle Binks’ new YA novel The Monster of Her Age with an afternoon of rich conversation on the importance of young adult literature and Australian writing, a prize raffle, drinks and nibblies and a whole lot of mingling!

Free event – Bookings essential!

• 8 August, 2021
• 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM

• Farrells Bookshop

  143 Main St, Mornington VIC 3931

• Booking info

After a brief break last year, Farrells’ story competition is back. But this year comes with a twist! This time, they’ll be accepting submissions of writing AND illustration, from both kids AND adults! For the first time they’re using a prompt for our competition: ‘OLD WORLDS, NEW WORLDS, OTHER WORLDS’. This is the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book Week theme for 2021, and should form the inspiration for your stories and illustrations. There are prizes up for grabs and the chance to have your work published on our website, so get writing (and drawing!).

Winners will be announced in-store on Saturday 28 August by our wonderful guest author, Danielle Binks. This is the last day of Book Week for 2021 and a perfect opportunity for us to celebrate the vibrant and creative community down here on the Mornington Peninsula.

Entries close 18th July 2021

• 28 August, 2021

• Check the Farrells website for submission guidelines: https://www.farrells.com.au/2021-writing-and-illustration-competition/

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Being a teen is tough, but what happens when life really puts your courage to the test? In this panel event, three novelists reveal the inspiration behind YA stories of young women facing down fears—from a former child actor, to a viral singer, to the friends of an abducted student. Don’t miss Danielle Binks (The Monster of Her Age), Will Kostakis (The Greatest Hit) and Leanne Hall (The Gaps) as they reveal the origins of their ideas on stage with Melissa Keil.

• 11 September, 2021
• 10AM

• Trades Hall, Fringe Common Rooms

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Strap yourself in as a showcase of the country’s most imaginative writers for young adults present a new piece of fanfiction about their favourite characters from literature, TV and film surviving (or not) the end of the world. Whether it’s a zombie apocalypse, alien invasion or all-out cybergeddon, expect the unexpected as some of pop culture’s best-loved icons are dropped into dystopian scenarios. Featuring Danielle Binks, Sophie Gonzales, Samera Kamaleddine, Amie Kaufman and Garth Nix with host Will Kostakis.

• 11 September, 2021
• 5PM

• Trades Hall, Fringe Common Rooms

  Due to COVID-19 border restrictions that affect participants in this event we are not releasing tickets at this time. We are working through contingencies and will provide updates soon. Subscribe to the MWF eNews for updates and ticket releases.

• Booking info