Current competitions
Australian Help Writing Contest
Closing Date: 15 August 2017
Entry Fee: No
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: http://australianhelp.com/writing-contest
We are happy to open Australian Help Writing Contest! If you want to try yourself in essay writing, don’t miss the opportunity to receive the evaluation by professional essay writers and win a cash prize! Winners will be featured on our blog and social media pages. Your submission should be between 800 and 1,200 words and double-spaced. Essay should be written in English. Prizes: 1st place – $700 2nd place – $500 3rd place – $250 Email your essay to contest[at]australianhelp.com. Include your full name, date of birth, country and college/university name (if any). Subject line should be “Australian Writing… read more
‘Poetic Licence’
Closing Date: 30 June 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: http://www.scribeswriters.com/poetry.html
Traditional and Free Verse with an Open Theme. Line Count: 60 Maximum (exc Title). $200 first prize, $100 second prize. HC and commended certificates at judge’s discretion. $7.00 fee per entry, per category. Address: Scribes Writers Poetry Competition, Sth Barwon Community Centre, 33 Mount Pleasant Road, BELMONT. Victoria 3216. read more
ELYNE MITCHELL WRITERS AWARD 2017
Closing Date: 24 August 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: http://www.elynemitchell.com.au/2017-competition/ or on our Facebook of same name
Our theme for 2017 is Local stories, places, people and events. Fitting to the Australian and/or New Zealand rural countryside. Please see our website for details. read more
City of Rockingham Short Fiction Awards
Closing Date: 14 July 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: http://www.rockingham.wa.gov.au/Community/Art-and-culture/Writing-and-literature
Short stories of 1000-4000 words. Authors can submit up to three stories. Entered stories must be inspired by, drawn upon, or use the theme of the artwork “Arts Centre Cafe” by Daniela Selir (1994), which can be found on the entry form. Categories: Open; Over 50s; Young Writers (10-17). Free entry. Over $5000 in prizes. read more
2017 ACU Prize for Poetry
Closing Date: 3 July 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: http://www.acu.edu.au/about_acu/our_university/catholic_identity/acu_poetry_prize
Entries for the 2017 Australian Catholic University (ACU) Prize for Poetry are now welcome, with writers competing for the coveted $10,000 first prize. The ACU Prize for Poetry will be awarded for outstanding poetry with the theme ‘Joy’, and will be presented on Thursday 31 August in Melbourne. read more
Aesthetica Creative Writing Award
Closing Date: 31 August 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: http://www.aestheticamagazine.com/creative-writing-award
The 11th Aesthetica Creative Writing Award is now open for entries, presenting an opportunity for emerging and established writers and poets to showcase their work to new international audiences and further their involvement in the literary world. Short Fiction entries should be no more than 2,000 words. Poetry entries should be no more than 40 lines. Works previously published are accepted. read more
2017 CHASS Australia Book Prize
Closing Date: 30 June 2017
Entry Fee: No
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: www.chass.org.au.au
Our Book Prize is for a non-fiction book/e-book that best demonstrates relevance to the Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences (HASS). Books are not required to solely deal with Australian topics, however, they must enrich and contribute to Australian cultural and intellectual life. A single author can submit up to four books. Books should be by a single author or, at most, two authors. Edited collections are not eligible. The book may have been published overseas; however, the nominee must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Self-published books/e-books will be considered if the author can provide evidence that the book… read more
Historical Novel Society Australasia Short Story Contest
Closing Date: 31 July 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: http://hnsa.org.au/story-contest/
The inaugural Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA) Short Story Contest is open to all delegates of the 2017 HNSA Melbourne Conference. Sandra Gulland, author of The Shadow Queen and Mistress of the Sun, will act as our judge. The winner will be awarded: A prize of $500 A free membership of the Historical Novel Society https://historicalnovelsociety.org/ A certificate The second and third placed entrants will each receive certificates. With the author’s consent, the winning, second place and third place stories will be published by Backstory (both online and print on demand) after the conference. http://www.backstoryjournal.com.au read more
The Robyn Mathison Poetry Prize 2017
Closing Date: 31 August 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: www.swwtas.org.au
The Society of Women Writers Tasmania present the Robyn Mathison Poetry Prize 2017. 1st Prize $200 and 2nd Prize $50 plus Highly Commended and Commended awards for poetry up to 40 lines. The theme is ‘Journeys’. For further information contact email: wendylaing02@gmail.com read more
Visible Ink
Closing Date: 31 July 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: No
More Information: www.visibleink.net
Our theme this year is “The End”. It is common to feel these days that we are in the end of times. Justifiable, given our current circumstances—it really seems like we are slouching towards the apocalypse However, not many know, but the word apocalypse originally meant “truthful revelation. In an age where there is systematic silencing, we feel it is applicable. So, we encourage submissions to interpret this concept of “The End” and how it applies to almost every aspect of the human experience. Kurt Vonnegut once said, “nothing in real life ever ends”. And he is right. You can… read more
Scribes Writers ‘Short Takes’ Open Literary Competition 2017
Closing Date: 30 September 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: For full details, conditions and entry form visit www.scribeswriters.com/prose.html
A: Fictional Short Story B: Memoir, Open Theme – 1,000 max word limit Entry Fee $7.00 Prizes for each category 1st $200 – 2nd $100 HC and Commended certificates at judges’ discretion. read more
The John Marsden & Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers
Closing Date: 30 June 2017
Entry Fee: No
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: http://expressmedia.org.au/programs/john-marsden-prize/
Entries are now open for the 2017 John Marsden & Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers, a developmental award open exclusively to Australian secondary school students across the nation. The prize recognises excellence in three creative writing categories: fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Fifteen shortlisted writers will be invited to a special event to meet John Marsden and also participate in an exclusive creative writing workshop with Mark Brandi, one of Australia’s most exciting debut novelists. Prize winners will also receive a $500 cash prize and a book pack of YA titles, courtesy of Hachette Australia, publication of their work on… read more
Odyssey House Victoria Annual Short Story Competition
Closing Date: 3 November 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: odyssey@odyssey.org.au
This competition is open to writers of all ages and experience. Each submission must be no more than 1,500 words and follow the theme “Courage”. It will need to make a reference to alcohol and/or drugs. There is a limit of three entries per person, and the entry fee is $10 per story. First prize is $1,000 and a one year membership to Writers Victoria; 2nd prize is $100 and 3rd prize is $50. The competition closes on Friday 3rd November, 2017. For more information or to download an entry form, go to www.odyssey.org.au. The money raised from this competition… read more
ELYNE MITCHELL WRITING AWARD 2017
Closing Date: 24 August 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: https://www.facebook.com/Elyne.Mitchell.Award/
https://www.facebook.com/Elyne.Mitchell.Award/ Elyne Mitchell Writing Award Please note that you can download our entry forms from our website – above. Please also check the facebook page for updates. Our theme for 2017 is Local Stories, People, Places and Events. We accept both fiction and non-fiction in all categories: Open Category which is open to all Australian and New Zealand residents; Snowy Hydro Upper Murray Writers Category which is open to local residents of Towong, Tumbarumba and Indigo Shires. read more
Australasian Association of Writing Programs & Australian Short Story Festival Short Story Prize 2017
Closing Date: 30 July 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: https://meniscusliteraryjournal.submittable.com/submit
Calling for unpublished short stories from emerging writers only. (Emerging writers will not have a full-length, single-authored, commercially published, print publication in any genre. Emerging writers who have published in electronic format only, or who have published work in collections showcasing multiple authors, are eligible.) Entries should not exceed 3000 words. read more
The Venie Holmgren Environmental Poetry Prize
Closing Date: 14 July 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: https://www.holmgren.com.au/2017-venie-holmgren-environmental-poetry-prize/
Now in its second year, the Venie Prize was established to honour the environmental activist + poet Venie Holmgren. Poems must be on an environmental theme and must be 80 lines or less. This year’s judges are Ross Gillett + Fiona Hile. The winning poem will be announced at the Daylesford Words in Winter festival in August 2017. read more
Stringybark Dog Eat Dog Short Story Award 2017
Closing Date: 16 July 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: http://www.stringybarkstories.net
This competition follows in the grand footsteps of our other thematic awards. For this competition we are looking for stories that have as their title a cliché and include one reference to that cliché somewhere in the story. We DO NOT want a story containing many clichés. We hate clichés with a passion but we reckon clichés can inspire some ripper short stories. Can you imagine the content of stories with titles such as: A Bed of Roses A Fate Worse than Death A Hard Man is Good to Find Behind the Eight Ball Built Like a Brick Shithouse The… read more
Lane Cove Literary Awards 2017
Closing Date: 23 August 2017
Entry Fee: No
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/literaryawards
The Lane Cove Literary Awards are open and entries will be accepted until 23 August 2017. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: • Short Story Prize- $2,000 • Memoir Prize – $1,500 • Poetry Prize- $1,500 The following additional prizes may be awarded: • North Shore Gym Resident Short Story Prize – $500 • Stone Real Estate Resident Memoir Prize – $500 • Trendsetter Travel Resident Poetry Prize – $500 • The Burns Bay Bookery Youth Prize (16-24 years) – $500 • The Baytree by Ardency Senior Prize (Age 65+) – $500 The Terms & Conditions and Entry… read more
AlburyCity Short Story Award
Closing Date: 26 July 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: http://www.writearoundthemurray.org.au/competitions/short-story-award
Bring your writing into the light by exploring the theme of ‘shadows’ in this year’s short story competition. The 3,000 word short story award attracts a $1,000 first place cash prize. Details: • Theme: Shadow • Word limit: 3,000 • Entry fee: $10 • First prize: $1,000 • Closing date: 5pm, Wednesday 26 July • Winners and runners up will be announced on Thursday 14 September during the Write Around the Murray Festival. read more
Phone It In
Closing Date: 3 August 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: https://shortaustralianstories.com.au
The Spineless Wonders’ Slinkies team and the National Young Writers Festival are looking for the best stories up to 100 words. The theme is open, entry is free and there is no limit to the number of entries. All entries must be submitted as audio files (recorded on any device and in any audio format) and uploaded to Submission Manager via this link https://spinelesswonders.submittable.com/submit/84712/nywf-spineless-wonders-slinkies-100-wd-competition The competition is open to any person aged between 18 and 35 years of age who is residing in Australia or any Australian living overseas. The NYWF/Slinkies competition will open on May 22 and closes on… read more
Sydney Writers’ Room Short Story Competition
Closing Date: 31 August 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: http://writersroom.org.au/short-story-competition
Entries are open to writers of all ages that are resident in Australia. An SWR committee will be judging the 2017 Short Story Competition ‘blind’, using Submittable’s in-built rubric. Current members or board members of the SWR are not eligible to enter. Stories should be limited to 2000 words and must be single-authored and unpublished. Entries are accepted online only, as Word Documents or PDF files. The prizes will be $500 for the overall winner and $250 for the runner up (as judged by the competition committee). These prizes may be split in the case that an individual winner cannot… read more
