All your questions answered about the 2023 Stella Prize
Not sure about something?
We may have answered your questions about entry to the Stella Prize here.
If we haven’t, please get in touch with us at info@stella.org.au
Prior to entering
Who is judging the entries to the 2023 Stella Prize?
A panel of five key professionals from the Australian literary community will judge the 2023 Stella Prize. They are selected for their varied experience as writers, readers, critics, booksellers, editors, and/or literary programmers. The 2023 Stella Prize Judging Panel comprises Alice Pung (Chair), Astrid Edwards, Beejay Silcox, Jeff Sparrow, and Alison Whittaker.
What criteria do the Judging Panel use to determine the winner?
The Judging Panel will select the entry they believe to be the most original, excellent, and engaging as the winner.
Is a book still eligible if it was published in late 2021?
No. To be eligible for the 2023 Stella Prize, books have been published commercially in English anywhere in the world between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022.
Entering
Will the details provided in my entry form be kept private?
Yes. All details submitted in the entry form will remain strictly confidential. Contact details will only be used to notify authors, publishers, and agents in the event that a book is longlisted for the Stella Prize.
Do you accept entries from Australian citizens or residents who are based overseas at the time of entry?
Yes. Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia at the time of entry are eligible for the Prize.
Do you require proof of an author’s gender at the time of entry?
No. Entry is open to authors who identify with the Prize’s purpose to promote Australian women’s writing in ways that align with their own gender identity. This includes cis women, trans women, and non-binary people. We interpret entry to the Prize as confirmation of the author’s alignment with the Prize’s aims and do not require any validation regarding an author’s gender beyond their self-identification.
Can Stella refuse my entry?
Yes. 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 the reputation of Stella. 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.
What if I do not have access to a valid ePub file at the time of entry?
If you do not have access to a valid ePub file at the time of entry, you can alternatively attach a PDF. It is the publisher’s responsibility to ensure book files are properly formatted and rendered correctly across platforms. We kindly request that you do not use a proprietary DRM solution, include text overlaid on images on a PDF, or watermark across text as it may adversely affect the reading experience.
I will only have access to the final digital file of a book I plan to submit after general entries have closed. Can I still enter the Prize?
Contact us via info@stella.org.au if you intend to enter a book that falls under this category. Stella accepts books published between 13 October until 31 December 2022, however entry forms must be completed prior to general entries closing on Wednesday 12 October 2022. Please attach an overview or 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.
The layout and/or structure of the book I plan to enter is best read in hardcopy. Can I submit hardcopies in addition to a digital file?
Stella accepts hardcopies for submission under special circumstances, however a digital file must initially be submitted. If you intend to enter a title that falls under this category, please get in contact with us via info@stella.org.au.
I have self-published a book. Is my book eligible for the Stella Prize?
No. Self-published books are not eligible. Books must be published by publishing houses with a professional editorial process, independent of the authors. Authors must not pay for the publishing house’s editorial, marketing, or publicity services.
What if my book has been published overseas in a previous calendar year, and has now been published in Australia?
Books are only eligible once. You may choose to enter a book in the year it is first published overseas, or alternatively, the year it is first published in Australia.
Are entries in languages other than English eligible?
Entries must be in English. Bilingual editions are eligible, as are books first published in another language and then translated into English, and first published in English during the eligibility period.
Are co-authored books eligible for the Stella Prize?
Yes. Books can be co-authored, however edited collections are not eligible. 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.
Can some of the essays or poems within a book have been previously published elsewhere?
Yes. Books are eligible as long as a significant proportion of the work has not previously been published in book form.
Am I able to submit multiple entries within the same form?
No. You’ll need to enter each book individually.
As a publisher/agent, do I need all of my author’s contact information prior to entering their book into the Stella Prize?
Yes. Please do not provide publisher or agent contact information as an alternative for an author’s contact information.
After entering
Will I receive a notification that you’ve received my entry?
Yes. You’ll receive an automatic notification email confirming your entry has been received.
Will I be contacted if I have not been longlisted for the Stella Prize?
No. Only those longlisted for the Prize, and their associated publishers, will be notified.
When will the longlist, shortlist and Stella Prize winner be announced?
- Longlist announcement: Thursday 2 March, 2023
- Shortlist announcement: Thursday 30 March, 2023
- Winner announcement: Thursday 27 April, 2023
