Entries and Eligibility

2023 Stella Prize – Entry Periods

Early-bird entries

Early-bird entries are accepted from 9am AEST Monday 15 August until 5pm AEST Wednesday 7 September 2022. The discounted entry fee of $66 (GST inclusive) applies.

General entries

General entries are accepted from 9am AEST Thursday 8 September until 5pm AEST Wednesday 12 October 2022. A general entry fee of $88 (GST inclusive) applies.

Late entries

Stella accepts books published between 13 October until 31 December 2022, however entry forms must be completed prior to general entries closing (Wednesday 12 October 2022). Please attach a media release to your form if the final digital file is not yet available. Final electronic files must be received before Wednesday 16 November 2022.

2023 Stella Prize – Eligibility Guidelines

The Stella Prize (“the Prize”) is the flagship program of the Stella Prize Incorporated (“Stella”). The Prize is a major literary award that celebrates Australian women’s writing.

1. The Stella Prize is open to books by women and non-binary writers. We do not require any validation regarding an author’s gender beyond their self-identification.

2. Authors must be Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia at the time of entry.
   
3. Books must have first been published commercially in English anywhere in the world between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022.
   
4. Books eligible for the Prize are:
   • novels of all genres
   • memoirs
   • biographies
   • histories
   • single-author short story collections
   • single-author poetry collections of at least 40 pages
   • verse novels 
   • novellas of at least 20,000 words
   • Illustrated books, including graphic novels, provided they are accompanied by a substantial quantity of text. 
     
5. Books not eligible for the Prize are:
   • academic textbooks
   • guidebooks
   • self-help books
   • anthologies
   • play or film scripts
   • books written primarily for children under the age of 12
   • books consisting of illustrations or photographs with an insubstantial quantity of text
   • adaptations, unless they represent a significant and creative transformation of the original text.
   • self-published books: see Eligibility Clause 8. (below) for details
   • books published only in eBook form
   • books written by current Board members or employees of The Stella Prize Inc.

6. Co-authored books are eligible, however books cannot be entered in the name of an editor or a committee. In the case of a book with multiple authors, all authors must meet Eligibility Clause 1 and 2.
   
7. Books must be written in English. Bilingual editions, where one of the languages is English, are eligible, as are books first published in another language and then translated into English, and first published in English during the eligibility period.
   
8. Books must be published by publishing houses with a professional editorial process, independent of the author/s. Authors must not pay for the publishing house’s editorial, marketing, or publicity services. Books must have an ISBN and be available to purchase in Australia.
   
9. Books are not eligible if a significant proportion has been previously published in book form. Material that has previously been part published only in anthologies or literary journals is deemed to be new. It is the publisher’s or author’s responsibility to identify such previously published material at the time of entry.

2023 Stella Prize – Submission Guidelines

10. Entries to the Stella Prize are accepted as digital files only.
    
    Books should be submitted as a valid ePub file (preferred) or PDF (where an ePub is unavailable or unsuitable) via the online form. 
    
    It is the publisher’s responsibility to ensure book files are properly formatted and rendered correctly across platforms. Please do not use a proprietary DRM solution, watermark across text, or include text overlaid on images on a PDF, as it may adversely affect the reading experience. Upon entry, files will be moved to a restricted folder accessible only to the Judging Panel and Stella staff. Files will not be shared with any outside parties.
    
    It is the publisher’s responsibility to ensure hardcopies are not dispatched. Stella is not responsible for the return of books shipped to any premises. 
    
11. Books may be entered by publishers, authors, or agents. If a book is entered by a publisher or agent, the author’s consent to enter the book must be obtained. The author’s personal contact details must be included on the entry form.

2023 Stella Prize – Judge Guidelines

12. Stella appoints a Judging Panel of five professionals from the Australian literary community. The Judging Panel is responsible for selecting a longlist of not more than twelve books, a shortlist of not more than six books, and the winner of the Stella Prize.
    
13. The Judging Panel will select the book they believe to be the most original, excellent, and engaging as the winner.
    
14. The Judging Panel may, at their discretion, call in additional books that publishers/authors have not submitted. Any book that is called in must meet the Eligibility Guidelines, and the authors permission must be obtained as per Eligibility Clause 11.
    
15. The Judging Panel will make their selections based on literary merit without personal prejudice or preference. Stella implements a comprehensive conflict of interest policy and identifies, assesses, and manages potential conflicts in relation to entries each year to protect the integrity and reputation of Stella, its appointed judges, staff and Board members.
    
16. The Judging Panel will not discuss or divulge the submitted books publicly or with anyone outside of the panel and Stella staff.
    

2023 Stella Prize – Conditions of Entry

17. Stella welcomes all entries submitted in good faith and reserves the right to refuse entries submitted with malice or with the intent to mislead or deceive others, or which otherwise may harm Stella’s reputation. All decisions of Stella and the Judging Panel are final. Stella and the Judging Panel will not enter into any discussions or correspondence regarding its decisions.
    
18. It is the responsibility of the publisher and author to familiarise themselves with Stella’s Funding Sources, Sponsorship, and Partnerships. In entering their book, all longlisted, shortlisted, and Prize-winning authors commit to accept the source of the funds awarded to them.
    
19. Prize-listed authors may be asked to participate in a number of public and media events at the time of, and in the months following the Prize announcements. Entry into the Prize confirms the author’s willingness to make themselves available, where possible, to a number of media commitments. All shortlisted authors are encouraged to attend the award ceremony, and publishers are expected to reasonably contribute towards travel, media, and promotional expenses.
    
20. Publishers of books longlisted or shortlisted for the Prize are expected to supply additional print copies for promotional and administrative purposes and/or copies at discounted rates. This contribution is dependent on the size of the publisher, and may be adjusted at the discretion of Stella. 
    
21. Publishers of books shortlisted for the Stella Prize are expected to contribute between $500 and $2,000 per title towards the costs of marketing the Stella Prize shortlist. This contribution may be adjusted or waived depending on the size of the publisher, and Stella welcomes a conversation with publishers at the time of Prize-listing. 
    
22. Publishers of Prize-listed or winning books will ensure that copies of their titles are available in bookshops and libraries at the time of the relevant announcements.