The Somerset Storyfest National Novella Writing Competition is open to all Australian high school students. It is a wonderful opportunity for serious student writers, encouraging them in their literary growth - and there are also some fantastic prizes on offer! 

2026 Somerset Storyfest National Novella Writing Competition

Dr Catherine Mills Sponsor Logo

As a part of the 2026 Somerset Storyfest, school-aged students are invited to participate in our National Novella Writing Competition.

The novella is proudly sponsored by Dr Catherine Mills .

Entries are open from Monday 04 August to Friday 5 December 2025.

2026 Somerset Novella Writing Competition

Our Previous Winners

2025 Winners
2024 Winners
2023 Winners
2022 Winners
2021 Winners
2020 Winners

2025 Winners

2025 Somerset Storyfest National Novella Winner

The Diary of Another Individual - Ayla Chirathivat Geralds, Somerset College, Queensland

2025 Shortlisted

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

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

2024 Winners

2024 Somerset 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 Somerset 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