The Postgraduate Prize for Best Conference Paper is open to Postgraduate conference participants each year. The aim of the competition is to encourage excellence in research and scholarship in the Creative Writing discipline, and to reward Postgraduate research candidates participating in the AAWP conference for their achievements in writing excellent conference papers.
The judging panel consists of two members of the AAWP Executive Management Committee and the previous year’s prize-winner. Papers submitted were judged according to the criteria of: clarity of the research question; significance of the inquiry; originality in thought and approach; appropriateness of the writing style – sophisticated, accessible, lucid and agile.
There were eight very good entries this year, but the papers noted as the most fully realised according to the criteria by each of the judges were chosen because of the soundness of their research focus, originality of their contribution to the discourse on Creative Writing practices, and their ability to engage the reader through clarity of argument and writing style. From this process, the judging committee is delighted to announce the results as follows:
WINNER:
Michelle Hamadache (Macquarie University)
Between Autobiography and Intimacy: An English Monolingual’s Foray into Algeria
"The fusion of the personal with the theoretical works seamlessly in this instance, and the way she humanises her PhD project – bringing it close and refusing to keep it a safe arm’s length – gives the research purpose. The interrogation of her own motivations as well as her discussion of language is beautifully pieced together with the help of Derrida. This paper is really quite brilliant." (Judge’s comments)
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Wendy Glassby (Murdoch University)
Looking Behind the Book: Creative Writing as Pre-Literature
"What makes this paper so remarkable is that very pertinent concepts of the connotations and historicities of the literature/creative writing divide are presented in a very accessible and lucid style and structure, amounting to an influential and indeed quotable text." (Judge’s comments)
We look forward to receiving many more entries this year and continuing to provide reward and recognition for Postgraduate students contributing to Creative Writing research.