PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS

How it works…

From 2.00 to 4.00 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in the Supper Room of the Town Hall, sixteen local writers from the western suburbs read a piece of poetry or prose (lasting no longer than four minutes) which they have written. At the end, the audience votes on whose work they enjoyed the most — which pieces were the most interesting/entertaining? There are exciting prizes for the two top-rated entries in each section – poetry and prose. And of course, the award of the coveted titles of ‘The People’s Choice 2025’.

The first Willy Lit Fest started with it, and it has been a much-loved feature ever since.

You can opt for the prose or poetry sections, but you need to register in advance via our online form below, as no additional performers can be accepted on the day. Whether your reading style is dynamic or cool and reflective (or somewhere in between), and whether or not you’ve read in public before, our enthusiastic and supportive audience is waiting to hear from you. It’s a great way to try out spoken word performance.

We’ve showcased a wonderful line-up of writing talent over the years, including poet Bea Jones, and multi-talented authors Richard Dove, Jackie Kerin and Jonathan Griffiths. This could be your four minutes of fame! (Reminder: in fairness to other readers, please limit your reading to 4 minutes.)

 

Entries have not opened for 2025.

Previous Winners

YEAR

CATEGORY

AWARDED

TITLE

WRITER


2024

Prose

Winner

Emma

Linelle Gibson


Runner-up

Caught Between Two Worlds

Julie Kernich


Poetry

Winner

At Home with Dad

Jonathan Griffiths


Runner-up

Where Do Stories Come From?

Jackie Kerin


2023

Prose

Winner

Classroom Chronicles

Shannon Catania-Mizzi


Runner-up

unnamed

Richenda Rudman


Poetry

Winner

why the band broke up

Anna Fern


Runner-up

Solitary Confinement

Laleh Alim