2019 national winners announced

2019 national winners announced

The results of the annual national Write a Book in a Day competition are in! More than 1000 teams registered for the 2019 event from places as far flung as Christmas Island and Deloraine, Tasmania. 

Not even the most accomplished authors can claim they have written and published a book in one sitting, but that’s exactly what 8,500 students around Australia have done through the 2019 Write a Book in a Day competition.

Now in its sixteenth year, the annual event offers a creative challenge for pupils in Years 5 – 12 who must work in teams to write, illustrate and publish a book in just 12 hours. To make it even more fun, unique parameters need to be included in the story.

More than 1,100 teams representing every state and territory registered for the 2019 event from places as far flung as Christmas Island and Deloraine, Tasmania.

Completed books are donated to children in hospitals across the country while funds raised through sponsorship go to The Kids’ Cancer Project, an independent national charity with a mission to support scientific research to help children with many different types of cancer.

For two students, the fundraising element of the competition was personal. One, from the Wilderness School in South Australia participated from her hospital bed while receiving treatment for cancer. The other, Sienna Newtown, is a brain cancer survivor from rural New South Wales.

This year more than $475,000 was raised through the generosity of all those who supported participants.

Entries were judged by a prestigious panel including Mick Elliott, a children’s television producer, scriptwriter, animator, illustrator and author of The Turners trilogy along with Maddy Proud, author of Grace on the Court and an Australian netball player.

The standard of excellence displayed in this year’s competition gave the judging panel the unenviable challenge of whittling the thousands of books created down to four national winners.

National Awards - Best Books

  • Primary School: “Flipped” by Valley Vipers, Green Valley Public School, NSW
  • Middle School: “Looking for Alejandro” by Team 2 Year 9 at Loretto Kirribilli, NSW
  • Upper School: “Redback, come back”, by The Scribble Society, Pymble Ladies College, NSW
  • Open: “Took”, by Hail and Well Met, Bayswater, WA

A further 48 awards were awarded by state, by division.


Discover all the winners


All budding authors are encouraged to sign up for 2020 Write a Book in a Day by emailing info@writeabookinaday.com.

In Praise of Write a Book in a Day 2019

Write a Book in a Day is such a great experience for all the students involved - it pushes them to create something amazing for a great cause.” - Stephanie Whitehead, Team Coordinator, Urangan State High School, Qld

“This was our first year in the competition, but it certainly won't be the last. A fabulous and positive process for our kids the whole way through.” - Victoria McKinnon, Team Coordinator, Morphett Vale Primary School, SA

“The event was a day of literary fun and teamwork and our library was a hive of activity. Participants are already eager for the competition next year.” - Bernadette Nye, Librarian at John Forrest Secondary College, WA

“A valuable learning experience for timelines, group work and general delegation. Highly enjoyable and an experience that the students will remember.” - Jessica Finden, Team Coordinator, Carmel College, Qld

“Write a Book in a Day is a great fundraiser with money going to a fantastic cause. This year we had a lot of fun, the competition helped us with our time management skills as well as learning to work collaboratively with others. We thoroughly enjoyed it and are going to come back for years to come.” - Charli (Year 8), Emmanuel Anglican College, NSW

“Thank you! It was over and above anything we imagined! She came home so excited and full of self-belief and confidence.” – Parent of student, Norwood Primary School, Tas

While the competition has concluded for 2019, donations are gratefully accepted by The Kids' Cancer Project.

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