2025 Shortlisted
Congratulations to the following participants who have been Shortlisted. Our shortlisted participants will be invited to travel to the Gold Coast to attend the Storyfest Writers' Festival from Tuesday 1 April to Thursday 3 April, meet with authors, publishers and immerse themselves into literacy for the three days!
- The Diary of Another Individual - Ayla Chirathivat Geralds, Somerset College, Queensland
- There Should Have Been Music - Scarlett Wightley, St Thomas More College, Queensland
- All That Never Was - Shiloh Herzberg Nicholls, St Clare's Highschool Taree, New South Wales
Due to a variety of factors and entries received, our Judges and our CEO, have agreed to amend the Novella outcomes to reflect a Longlist which is announced below, and a Shortlist being announced on Monday 10 March.
Congratulations to all those participants, the standard of entries was excellent and decisions for winners even more difficult.
2025 Longlisted
- The Diary of Another Individual - Ayla Chirathivat Geralds, Somerset College, Queensland
- The Night of the Long Knives - Chesna Fernando, St Monica's College Epping, Victoria
- There Should Have Been Music - Scarlett Wightley, St Thomas More College, Queensland
- All That Never Was - Shiloh Herzberg Nicholls, St Clare's Highschool Taree, New South Wales
- In Life and In Death - Milla May Muirhead, Merewhether Highschool, New South Wales
- Fortune Maximus: The Hybrid's Lament - Yenuli de Coonghe, Box Hill Highschool, Victoria
- Shatter - Pippa Riley, St Micheal's Collegiate School, Tasmania
- The House Beneath the Lake - Emma Russell, Box Hill Highschool, Victoria
- The Last Covenant - Lucas Ryan, St Gregory's College Campbelltown, New South Wales
Proud sponsors of the 2025 Storyfest National Novella Writing Competition
Dr Catherine Mills
2024 Winners
2023 Winners
2022 Winners
2021 Winners
2020 Winners
2024 Winners
2024 Storyfest National Novella Winner
My Lady Greensleeves - Audrey Li, Ravenswood, New South Wales
2024 Shortlisted
My Lady Greensleeves - Audrey Li, Ravenswood, New South Wales
When Absolutely Everything Counts - Milla May Muirhead, Merewether High School, New South Wales
Surviving Wonderland - Isabelle Knowles, Oberon High School, Victoria
2024 Longlisted
The Bard's Bloodlust - Else O'Leary, The Friends' School, Tasmania
Ruina Imperii - Jerry Gao, Baulkham Hills High School, New South Wales
My Lady Greensleeves - Audrey Li, Ravenswood, New South Wales
When Absolutely Everything Counts - Milla May Muirhead, Merewether High School, New South Wales
Surviving Wonderland - Isabelle Knowles, Oberon High School, Victoria
2023 Winners
2023 Storyfest National Novella Winner
Inside You and Me - Hannah Morgan, Fitzroy High School, Victoria
2023 Shortlisted
Under the Gaze of the Tamarind - Preethika Mathan, Westbourne College, New South Wales
All My Reasons Not to Die - Manuri Jayawardhana, Norwood International High School, South Australia
Inside You and Me - Hannah Morgan, Fitzroy High School, Victoria
2023 Longlisted
The Debate Team - Violet FitzSimons, Oxley College, New South Wales
Under the Gaze of the Tamarind - Preethika Mathan, Westbourne College, New South Wales
All My Reasons Not to Die - Manuri Jayawardhana, Norwood International High School, South Australia
History Repeats Herself - Jaimie Donnan, Christian College Geelong, Victoria
Inside You and Me - Hannah Morgan, Fitzroy High School, Victoria
The Shadow Master's Eye - Anni Ratten, Little Yarra Steiner School, Victoria
For What He's Done to You - Grace Winspear, The Friends' School, Tasmania
Dinosaurs From The Far Side Of The Moon - Lotus Rossi, Gloucester High School, New South Wales
Charcuterie Board - Abigail Porter, Churchlands Senior High School, Western Australia
Alcestis - Elisa Chen, Methodist Ladies' College, Victoria
2022 Winners
2022 National Winner
Where We Meet the Sea - Brianna Spencer, Gosford High School, New South Wales
2022 Shortlisted
Happy Little Girl - Grace Saxton, Linuwel School Ltd. New South Wales Where We Meet the Sea - Brianna Spencer, Gosford High School, New South Wales Clockwork Machinations - Sarah Lam, Presbyterian Ladies' College, Victoria
2022 Longlisted
Happy Little Girl - Grace Saxton, Linuwel School Ltd. New South Wales Love in the Time of Corona - Nirvana Prasad, Girraween High School, New South Wales Where We Meet the Sea - Brianna Spencer, Gosford High School, New South Wales The Journey - Cameron De Silva, Waverley Christian College, Victoria Clockwork Machinations - Sarah Lam, Presbyterian Ladies' College, Victoria Brown Aussies - Anirudh Sonti, Suzanne Cory High School, Victoria Do not fear the Reaper - Praise Wong, Waverley Christian College, Victoria
2021 Winners
2021 National Winner
The String Quartet – Eden Annesley, Clarence Valley Anglican School
2021 State Winners
New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory
The String Quartet – Eden Annesley, Clarence Valley Anglican School
Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia
Strangers From Within – Cameron De Silva, Waverley Christian College (Wantirna South)
Queensland and Northern Territory
Bigger Brother – Bridget MacKay, Emerald State High School
Western Australia
Today Until Yesterday – Hannah Pemberton, Perth Modern School
2020 Winners
2020 National Winner
All eyes on us. – Lani Gibson, Miami State High School
2020 State Winners
New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory
The Fire Burning – Keely Mewett, Picton High School
Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia
Optimistic Fatalism – John Patrick, Home Education
Queensland and Northern Territory
All eyes on us. – Lani Gibson, Miami State High School
Western Australia
I am Death – Lottie Berinson, Mount Lawley Senior High School
