Nominations now open for Penguin Literary Prize

The prize was established in 2017 in order to discover, nurture, and develop literary fiction writers.

The winning entrant will receive $20,000 and the chance to publish their work with Penguin Random House - home to hundreds of the world's most popular authors and more than 80 Nobel Prize-winning laureates.

The prize attracts about 400 submissions across various themes and genres of literary fiction each year and is the richest for an unpublished manuscript in the Australian publishing industry.

Every previous winner has had their books published with the publisher, and many have gone on to sell international and foreign-language rights.

Penguin Random House publisher Meredith Curnow said entries are read by many associates of the publisher, including booksellers and editors.

"We all look forward to playing a part in bringing new writers and books to publication," she said.

This year's winner Michelle See-Tho described the prize as "an incredible opportunity".

"It opens doors that seem locked to fledgling writers," she said.

"When I entered, I had no idea I would be shortlisted. But uploading that document turned out to be one of the best things I've done.

"If you have a manuscript, I can't recommend entering it enough. You have nothing to lose and an incredible prize to gain."

All Australian residents aged 18 or older are welcome to enter. Shortlisted entries will be announced on March 9, with the winner to be announced on June 6.

For more information or to enter click here.