Stories from the finalists in the Young Tasmanian Writers' Prize 2026 as selected by Kyle Perry, Adam Sharp, Judith Ridge and Sonia Strong. 

This short story competition began in 2014 as a collaboration between Forty South Publishing and the Tasmanian Association for the Teaching of English (TATE) with sponsorship from Fullers Bookshop. It is open to Tasmanians enrolled in Years 7–12. 

This year, entrants in the Junior Section were asked to choose a minimum of two elements – ‘the colour blue or black’, ‘the sound of a black cockatoo’, ‘the smell of lavender’, ‘the feel of water’ or ‘the taste of blackberries’ – to reference anywhere in their story. Senior Section entrants were asked to incorporate a minimum of three elements – ‘a place in Tasmania’, ‘references to fire, air, earth and/or water’, ‘the colours red, blue and/or green’, ‘a repeated image or phrase’ or ‘an evocative smell or taste – in their story.

In 2026 prizes have been donated by the City of Hobart (The Lord Mayor’s Prize awarded to the winner of each section), Jane College (the Jane College Prose Awards) and Fullers Bookshop (awarded to the Runners Up). This anthology is jointly funded by Forty South Publishing and TATE.

JUNIOR SECTION

Carmen Ng (Taroona High School) | Lament 

Charlotte Hiscock (Fahan School) | What the creek kept

Zsofia Borzak-Bell (Home Education) | The forever walk 

Cariad Lewis (Mount Carmel College) | Rockpool Dreamer

Bonnie Kerslake (St Patrick’s College) | If these walls could talk 

SENIOR SECTION

Isla Mayes (St Patrick’s College) | What girls get up to 

Bridget Ng (Hobart College) | Seagull song 

Tahlia Heerey (Home Education) | The Antiquity

Jonte Milne (Hobart College) | Fortescue 

Izzy B-Bell (Home Education) | Downpour 

Esmay Ollington (Marist Regional College) | Red