If you are a current Overland subscriber, use this form to enter the Judith Wright Poetry Prize.

The prize

Established in 2007 and supported by the Malcolm Robertson Foundation, the Overland Judith Wright Poetry Prize for New and Emerging Poets seeks outstanding poetry by writers who have published no more than one collection of poems under their own name. It remains one of the richest prizes for emerging poets, and is open to poets from Australia and New Zealand. In 2023, the major prize is $6000, with a second prize of $2000 and a third prize of $1000. All three winners will be published in Overland.  

**Please ensure you are satisfied with your poem before submitting. Stories that are withdrawn and subsequently resubmitted will incur a second fee.**

Details

Entries closes 11.59 pm, Friday 20 October 2023.  Please read the entry guidelines below before submitting. You may also be interested to read previous judges’ notes and winning stories.

This year's judges are Autumn Royal, Elena Gomez, Andy Jackson and Toby Fitch.

Entry conditions

Major prize: $6000 Second prize: $2000 Third prize: $1000  All three finalists will be published in Overland‘s 2023 autumn print edition.

1. The award is open to poets who have had no more than one solo collection of their work commercially published: that is, by a publishing house with commercial distribution.
2. The prize is open to Australian and New Zealand writers only.
3. Poems must be unpublished (including online) and not under consideration by other publishers, including Overland.
4. Poems that have won or are under consideration in other competitions are not eligible.
5. The winning poems will be published in Overland.
6. All submitted poems may also be considered for publication in Overland.
7. Entries must be submitted electronically via the Overland submittable system.
8. The name of the poet must not appear on the manuscript (including the header or footer) since all poems will be considered anonymously.
9. Poems must be no more than 80 lines.
10. Multiple entries are permitted, though a separate fee applies to each poem.
11. An entry fee of $12 for Overland subscribers and $20 for non-subscribers will be charged. 
12. Please ensure you are satisfied with your poem before submitting. Poems that are withdrawn and subsequently resubmitted will incur a second fee.
13. The judges’ decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
14. Overland staff and board members, and their families, are prohibited from entering. All previous, current and ongoing contributors are eligible to enter.
15. Winners will be announced in February 2024. Subscribe to the Overland email bulletin to receive announcements as to the results.