2026 Fresh Ink Prize Winner
Congratulations to the 2026 Fresh Ink Emerging Writer Prize winner Emily Herbert, who lives in Tintinhull, a tiny town near Tamworth in regional NSW. Emily receives $5000 for professional development…
Congratulations to the 2026 Fresh Ink Emerging Writer Prize winner Emily Herbert, who lives in Tintinhull, a tiny town near Tamworth in regional NSW. Emily receives $5000 for professional development thanks to Newcastle wine label Elephant in the Room, as well as a week-long residency at Varuna, The National Writer’s House.
Emily’s untitled submission was an excerpt from a longer story of three generations of Australian country women: Barney, Merle and Sweetpea. This year’s judges Sarah Armstrong and Raeden Richardson said the submission struck them both immediately with the strength and confidence of the narrative voice, the authority of the writing, and the way the reader is taken swiftly into the encompassing world.
Shortlisted writers, Michelle Cotterill, Sue Fagan, Lorena Dionigi, and Shannon Benton received $250 each.
The Fresh Ink Prize is open each year to emerging writers from regional NSW. Follow us on socials and subscribe to our newsletter to hear when the 2027 prize is open.
The prize is also supported by Create NSW.
MEET THE SHORTLIST
From left to right, Sarah Armstrong, Shannon Benton, Lorena Dionigi, Michelle Cotterill, Emily Herbert, Sue Fagan and Raeden Richardson are shown smiling for a photo, with the shortlisted writers holding their certificates of achievement.