Thirty writers have been selected from the thousands who entered the 2022 SBS Emerging Writers’ Competition to have their submissions published in an anthology by Hardie Grant.
The competition winners, who will receive cash prizes from a total pool of $10,000, will be announced on Tuesday, 22 November 2022.
Following is the 30 shortlisted writers who have been invited to be included in the anthology collection, which will be published in 2023:
Helen Nguyen, Chenturan Aran, Grace Huang, Zoë Amanda Wilson, Monikka Eliah, Geetha Pathanjali, Alex Chan, Sharifa Tartoussi, Adrian Mouhajer, Gemma Tamock, Taymin-lee Pagett, Alexander Burton, Allanah Hunt, Jane Doe, Vanessa Yenson, Seth Malacari, Sangeetha Jesudason, Saneia Norton, Sidney Norris, Raelee Lancaster, KT Major, Betty Petrov, Nina Newcombe, Miranda Jakich, Dahlia Eissa, Nadia Mahjouri, Hannah McPierzie, Elena Wewer, Hope Sneddon, Tessa Piper.
This anthology follows the publication of , which featured the top 30 entries from the 2021 SBS Emerging Writers’ Competition, and , which featured the top 30 entries from the 2020 competition.
Pam Brewster, publisher at Hardie Grant Books, says receiving the stories for the anthology was an eagerly awaited pleasure for the publishing house.
Anthologies 'Between Two Worlds' and 'Roots' are available now. Source: Supplied
“Working with the emerging writers selected to be included in the book has been a great pleasure for our editors at Hardie Grant Books. Their unique stories never fail to inspire us,” she says.
The stories, written in response to the theme of “emergence”, feature perspectives that often remain hidden from view.
This year’s judges, award-winning authors Alice Pung and Christos Tsiolkas, say they were deeply impressed by the entries.
“The quality of the shortlisted stories was outstanding,” says Pung. “Each piece took us into a different world, peopled with characters and realities both familiar and foreign to us.”
Fellow judge Christos Tsiolkas agrees, revealing it was a “joy” to be part of the competition. “We were impressed and gladdened by the power and breadth of the stories we read,” he says.
Competition entrant Hannah McPierzie is one of the 30 shortlisted writers invited to be part of the anthology. McPierzie’s memoir entry, titled “Unplugged”, is inspired by her coming to terms with being diagnosed with neurofibromatosis Type 2 and becoming deaf after brain surgery.
Christos Tsiolkas and Alice Pung are the judges of the 2022 SBS Emerging Writers' Competition. Source: Getty Images; Courtney Brown
“I am still digesting it, to be honest. I saw the email come through on my watch while I was teaching a class and squealed! I had to call my husband from the store cupboard. I’m deaf and we FaceTime so I can read his lips,” the 36-year-old from Perth tells SBS Voices.
“I am so proud of myself for finding the courage to share part of my story. I used some segments from journals to create my story and I now have the inspiration to turn it all into a book. The process of ‘emerging’ has been gradual, as I have been through some pretty gnarly brain surgeries (resulting in my deafness). I would love for someone else who’s facing a similar fate to read my words and feel less alone.”
Queensland academic Allanah Hunt says she was emotional getting the news her story on living with endometriosis was chosen for the anthology.
“For me, it means that my experience as an Indigenous woman with endometriosis, one which has so often been silenced or dismissed, was recognised and heard. It was important to me to write the piece, to share with other young women about the disease and maybe help them along their journey. I’ve felt so alone so the thought of my story being shared through such an amazing anthology is very special to me,” the 30-year-old said.
Sydney PhD student Elena Wewer, 29, says she’s “honoured and deeply grateful” her piece on life with autism and discovering a love of rollerskating had been chosen for the anthology.
“I’ve wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember, and getting this news was the first time I’ve ever thought: ‘This is actually possible,’” she said.
“I hope my words will land in the hands of other autistic people grappling with autistic shame and any form of grief, and that they’ll feel validated and comforted by my writing. I also hope I’ve inspired people to chase the ‘silly little hobbies’ that bring them joy – like rollerskating or writing.”
SBS Emerging Writers’ Competition organisers Danielle Teutsch and Natalie Hambly said the calibre of entries this year was outstanding.
“It was inspiring to see the range of interpretations of the theme this year, whether it be stories about ‘emerging’ into your identity, recovering from illness or literally emerging into the world during birth,” they said.
“Every year, the stories that pour in from all around Australia offer a snapshot of contemporary Australia in all its diversity, and it’s a privilege to witness this creative talent coming forth.”
The SBS Emerging Writers’ Competition anthology will be published by Hardie Grant in 2023.
Winners of the 2022 SBS Emerging Writers' Competition will be announced Tuesday, 22 November 2022.
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