Terms and Conditions

 

Conditions of Entry

1. To be considered for entry, participants must purchase an entry fee of $25 per manuscript. Category of manuscript is irrelevant.

2. Entrants must retain proof of their paid entry fee, and Rhiza Edge reserves any right to request such proof throughout the duration of the competition and during judging.

3. Entrants must be Australian citizens or residents aged 13 to 19 who are aspiring authors. Authors must be unpublished at the time of submission. Note that publication in short story or flash fiction competitions does not affect eligibility. Authors who have previously had a publishing contract or have self-published a full-length book are not eligible.

4. Employees and their direct family members are ineligible to enter. 

5. Entries must be the original work of the participant and unpublished. No AI is to be used. We ask that you do not use any AI at all in writing, even in brainstorming or title creation. We understand how technology and AI has its advantages but the work must ALL be the original creation of the author or illustrator.

6. We are looking for new ideas from teens. Adult teachers or parents cannot write the work.

Competition Period

7. Submissions for the Rhiza Teen Author Development Prize close on the 31st January 2026, 23:59:59. No entries will be considered after the conclusion of the submission timeframe.

How to Enter

8. Once a participant has purchased an entry fee, they will complete the Google form with all the following requirements:

a) Manuscript

b) Cover letter

c) Support letter from parent (if under 18)

d) Resume

e) Support letter from teacher or writing mentor

Judging

9. All manuscripts will be reviewed confidentially and judged by the publishing team at Wombat Books/Rhiza Edge. Decisions made by this judging panel are final and no negotiations will be entered into.

10. Feedback for stories that are not shortlisted will not be given.

Copyright and Privacy

11. All works of a participant belongs entirely to that participant and their works will be reviewed confidentially. Participants retain copyright of their work if a winning manuscript progresses to publication. 

12. All unselected works will be deleted immediately upon the conclusion of the competition, with no release of personal details or contents.

Prize(s)

13. A number of manuscripts will be shortlisted. Shortlisted manuscripts will receive an appraisal service.

14. Up to two winnners will be chosen out of the competition period.

15. Winners will be given a mentorship to develop the manuscript to prepare it for publication. If a publishing contract is offered, the winners will be given an advance against royalties according to the type of manuscript.

16. Rhiza Edge reserves the right to edit and refine the work selected before it is published.

17. No cash alternative prizes will be offered in lieu of declared prizes. Prizes are not transferable.

Winner Notification

18. Shortlisted authors will be notified via email once judging concludes.

19. Winners' names will be published to the Wombat/Rhiza website and related social media platforms after permission is given from authors.

General

20. Rhiza Edge and Wombat Books reserve the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God or any actual anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other event outside of Rhiza Edge and Wombat Books’ control. Any changes to the competition will be made known to entrants as soon as possible.

21. Rhiza Edge and Wombat Books are not responsible for inaccurate competition and/or prize details supplied to any entrant by any third party connected with this competition.

22. By entering the Rhiza Teen Author Development Prize, entrants are declaring acceptance and agreement with these terms and conditions.