Judging
The work
comes first.
Every shortlisted work is read closely against five criteria.
01
Literary Craft
Control of language, structure, form, voice, imagery, and technique.
02
Originality
A distinctive imagination, perspective, or approach to literary form.
03
Ambition
The scale and seriousness of the work’s artistic undertaking.
04
Emotional and Intellectual Resonance
The ability of the work to create lasting emotional, intellectual, or imaginative engagement.
05
Cohesion
How successfully the individual elements of the work come together as a complete literary experience.