Current competitions
These are writing competitions that are open to Australian residents at the moment. They are not run by the NT Writers’ Centre, so please contact the individual organisation listed if you have any specific question about any competition.
Call for Submissions: Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Anthology
Closing Date: 29 February 2020
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: No
More Information: NA
Seeking works of fiction, non-fiction and poetry that relate to the experience of perinatal anxiety, depression or other perinatal mental health condition. The selected pieces will be published in an awareness-raising anthology, with proceeds to benefit PANDA. While your own experience is encouraged as a starting point, preference is for writing that moves beyond the immediate personal account to create a piece of work with broader resonance. Submissions close 29 February 2020. Multiple submissions welcome. There is no entry fee. For further information or to submit, please email PNDA.Anthology@gmail.com read more
Furphy short story competition
Closing Date: 30 April 2020
Entry Fee: No
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: https://www.furphystory.com.au/furphy-literary-award/open-short-story-competition/
The Furphy Literary Award has been established to promote and extend the tradition of story telling, both factual and fictional, that is so much part of Australian life. There will be an annual award for a prose work, which may be fiction or non-fiction, by a writer aged 18 years or more at the time of submission. read more
Aesthetica Creative Writing Award
Closing Date: 31 August 2020
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: https://www.aestheticamagazine.com/creative-writing-award/
The Aesthetica Creative Writing Award is an international literary prize that is a hotbed for new talent in Poetry and Short Fiction. Now in its 14th year, the Prize supports both emerging and established writers. By entering, writers can showcase their work to key industry figures and organisations. Winners are selected for both categories and awarded with £1,000. Publication within the Aesthetica Creative Writing Anthology, is also awarded to a further 60 writers whose works are highly commended. Poetry entries £12 | Short Fiction entries £18 read more
Open call for writers and artists
Closing Date: 29 February 2020
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: https://sunspotlit.submittable.com/submit
Launched in January of 2019, Sunspot Literary Journal is changing the world by amplifying multinational voices. Published five times a year in digital and print editions, Sunspot accepts fiction, poetry, nonfiction, scripts and screenplays, including long-form pieces up to 49,000 words, and translations. Photography, illustrations and art are also accepted. Payments include annual Editor’s Prize, cover art, and contest winners. Website: https://sunspotlit.com/ read more
Single Word Contest from Sunspot Literary Journal
Closing Date: 31 March 2020
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: https://sunspotlit.submittable.com/submit/152903/single-word-contest-offers-500
Submit the single word in any language you feel is important in today’s world. Use up to 1,000 words to describe why in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Winner receives $500 plus publication. Finalists are offered publication. Website: https://sunspotlit.com/ read more
Nature & Place Poetry Competition 2020
Closing Date: 31 May 2020
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: https://www.therialto.co.uk/pages/nature-poetry-competition-2020/
The Rialto working in association with the RSPB, BirdLife International and the Cambridge Conservation Initiative invite submissions of poetry that deal with any aspect of nature and place – these terms will be given a wide interpretation by the judge. You can submit up to six poems in one batch, the entry fee for the first poem is £7 and includes an administration fee, the fee for each subsequent poem in the batch is £4. 1st prize – £1000 2nd prize – £500 3rd prize – £250 read more
The 2020 Heroines Women’s Writing Prize & Anthology
Closing Date: 20 April 2020
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: https://www.theneoperennialpress.com/heroinesanthologyprize2020
The 2020 Heroines Women’s Writing Prize & Anthology is now open for submissions of short fiction and poetry. The Heroines Anthology is a collection of stories of women written by women. Works with a particular focus on telling lost women’s history, untold stories, and reimagined myths, fairy tales, folklore or legends, or speculative fiction, are particularly encouraged. 1st prize Short Fiction $1000 & 1st prize Poetry $500 read more
2020 ABR Elizabeth Jolly Short Story Prize
Closing Date: 1 May 2020
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/component/k2/47-competitionsandprograms/6091-2020-abr-elizabeth-jolley-short-story-prize?Itemid=1857
Entries are currently open for the 2020 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize, worth a total of AU$12,500. The Jolley Prize is open to all short story writers writing in English. We seek original short stories of between 2,000 and 5,000 words. First place will receive $6,000, second place will receive $4,000, and third place will receive $2,500. read more
The Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award 2021
Closing Date: 31 May 2020
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: https://www.allenandunwin.com/being-a-writer/the-australian-vogel-s-literary-award
The Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award is one of Australia’s richest and the most prestigious award for an unpublished manuscript by a writer under the age of thirty-five. Offering prize money of $20,000 plus publication by Allen & Unwin with an advance against royalties, The Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award has launched the careers of some of Australia’s most successful writers, including Tim Winton, Kate Grenville, Gillian Mears, Brian Castro, Mandy Sayer and Andrew McGahan. Offering prize money of $20,000 plus publication by Allen & Unwin with an advance against royalties read more
The Best of Times Short Story Competition #29
Closing Date: 30 April 2020
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: www.bestoftimes.com.au
Humorous short stories up to 2,500 words. read more
