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Writers Victoria launches prize for migrant writers

Writers Victoria has launched a new prize for emerging writers from migrant backgrounds.

The Deborah Cass Prize will be awarded to an early-career Victorian author who was born overseas or has at least one parent who was born overseas. Entrants will be judged on a 3000-word extract from an unpublished manuscript that ‘reflects at least in part on the migrant experience’.

The winning author will receive $3000 and a three-month mentorship with an established writer, and Black Inc. will ‘consider the resulting manuscript’ for publication.

The prize is named after the granddaughter of Jewish immigrants to Australia. Cass was an international law academic who turned to creative writing after learning she had cancer. Although she had a number of short fiction pieces published, she did not realise her goal of completing a novel. The award was founded by Cass’ family and friends to recognise new writers who lacked opportunities.

The judging panel for the award includes Tony Ayers, Alice Pung and Christos Tsiolkas. For more information, visit the Writers Victoria website here.

 

Category: Local news