This year’s theme is ‘Australian Life in all its diversity’, with submissions to be no longer than 5000 words.
The award is founded on the belief of J.F. Archibald that everyone can write one good story, the very same belief that drove Joesph Furphy to pen the classic Such is Life under the pseudonym Tom Collins.
In the spirit of Mr Archibald, and honouring the author of Such is Life, the Furphy Literary Award has been established to promote and extend the tradition of story telling, both factual and fictional, that is so much a part of Australian life.
“To honour the life and times of Joseph Furphy in the most fitting way possible, we encourage Australian storytellers out there to submit a story with a focus on ‘Australian life in all its diversity’,” The Furphy Foundation’s co-director Sam Furphy said.
“We are calling all writers to compete in this annual award for a prose work, either fiction or non-fiction, by a writer aged 18 years or more at the time of submission.”
Last year saw more than 500 stories submitted from across Australia, with Toowoomba-based writer Thomas Alan taking first prize.
This year’s winner will be granted a $15,000 cash prize, along with a residency at La Trobe University, and all winners will receive pride of place in The Furphy Anthology 2022. The second prize winner will receive $3000 and the third $2000.
Judges for the short story competition include novelist Anson Cameron, writer and publisher John Harms, playwright and author Margaret Hickey, writer and publisher John Kerr, journalist and author Thornton McCamish and a new judge this year in Miles Franklin Literary Award winner Tara June Winch.
The judges said the awards presented a wonderful opportunity to all writers whether they were first-timers, emerging, or established in their careers.
The open competition runs from February 1, 2022 until April 30, 2022; following the judging, a shortlist will be revealed on June 30, with the winners to be announced at an awards ceremony in late July, 2022.
Writers have until April 30, 2022 to enter their short story.
For more information, visit www.furphystory.com.au/furphy-literary-award/open-short-story-competition/
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