Terms & Conditions

  • The Prize is open to both published and unpublished writers.

  • The manuscript must be a complete work of fiction between 20,000 and 80,000 words, aimed at middle reader, older reader, or young adult audience.

  • Manuscripts must fit within the targeted word count for their intended audience (with minor allowance on either side). Manuscripts over 80.8k words will not be read. Targeted word count for intended audiences can be found under FAQs here. 

  • The manuscript must be written in English and an entirely original work, written by the entrant.

  • Any works created by, or its creation assisted by, the use of generative AI will not be accepted.

  • No more than 10% of the manuscript can be previously published in any form, including self-publishing.

  • The submitted manuscript cannot be under consideration by any other publisher or entered in any other award.

  • Entrants to the prize must not be a current employee of WestWords.

  • Manuscripts must be double spaced, to include the title and page number on every page, and to be written in a simple, clear font. Time News Roman preferred. The manuscript must be submitted as either a PDF or Word document.

  • Entrants must demonstrate their connection to Western Sydney in their cover letter.

  • Entrants must submit a cover letter that includes a short synopsis of their submission (no more than 500 words), a short bio (no more than 300 words) and their connection to Western Sydney (no more than 300 words). 

  • Entrants must be citizens or full-time residents of Australia.

  • All entries must be submitted via email to competitions@westwords.com.au by October 13th, 5pm, 2025. Hard copy submissions will not be accepted.

  • Entries will be judged on the manuscript’s literary merit and commercial potential.

  • The judging panel will include a representative from WestWords & external assessors. 

  • The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into either during or after the judging process.

  • The winner and shortlistees will be notified first by phone and/or email. On acceptance of the Prize and contract, the winner will then be announced in December 2025 on the WestWords website and via the WestWords newsletter. 

  • Contingent on acceptance of the Prize, the winner agrees to accept WestWords Books offer of publication contract, which constitutes an advance against royalties from sales. Only one prize will be awarded. The offer of publication will be made in good faith and based on competitive commercial terms for the work.

  • WestWords Books will make an offer for worldwide publications rights to the winning entry, under the terms of a publishing agreement, which shall be negotiated with the winner in good faith and in line with industry norms. The winner of the WestWordsPrize agrees to negotiate those terms in good faith.

  • WestWords Books reserves the right to make a good faith offer based on competitive commercial terms for worldwide publication rights to any manuscript submitted to the competition, until the winner has been announced. Work submitted to the prize must not be offered for publication elsewhere until after the winner has been announced.

  • The winner and shortlistees grant WestWords the right to use all or any part of their entry for the purpose of announcing or promoting the author as a winning entrant, or to promote the prize itself.

  • The winner and shortlistees agree to take part in events and media activities to promote the prize.

  • WestWords reserves the right not to offer a prize if in its reasonable opinion no entry is received which is of an acceptable standard to warrant publication.

  • By entering the WestWords Prize you accept the conditions of entry and give your consent for your manuscript to be considered for the prize.

In entering the competition you warrant that: 

  • Publication of your manuscript by WestWords Books will in no way whatsoever infringe on any existing copyright or licence or any other right of any third person. (This includes the use of generative AI).

  • The work contains no defamatory matter, or any matter which invades any individual’s right of privacy.

  • All statements in the work purporting to be facts are true.

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