Current competitions
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
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
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
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
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
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
Birdcatcher Books Third Annual Short Story Competition
Closing Date: 31 August 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: Subscribe to the newsletter at http://birdcatcherbooks.com
Short stories, 1,000 to 3,000 words. Theme open but some restrictions (see T&C) read more
Varuna Focus Weeks
Closing Date: 6 September 2017
Entry Fee: No
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: http://www.varuna.com.au/varuna/index.php/programs/residential-programs/guided-programs/item/327-varuna-focus-weeks-2017-program
A Varuna Focus Week offers a residential masterclass to writers with a shared interest in a particular area. Focus weeks include individual work-time and facilitated sessions and may also include one-on-one mentorship. read more
The 2017 Newcastle Writers Festival joanne burns Microlit Award
Closing Date: 31 August 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: No
More Information: https://shortaustralianstories.com.au/
The 2017 joanne burns Microlit Award is jointly sponsored by the Newcastle Writers Festival and publisher Spineless Wonders. We are looking for writing (up to 200 words) that responds imaginatively to the theme of ‘time’. Judged by Cassandra Atherton. National and Hunter Region categories. First prize in each category will be $300. All finalist entries will be considered for publication in the Spineless Wonders microlit anthology and selected entries will be included in Spineless Wonders’ multi-platform storytelling activities, such as #storybombingNWF18. read more
Don’t Talk to Me about Love
Closing Date: 31 October 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: http://donttalktomeaboutlove.org/2017-annual-prose-contest/
Don’t Talk to Me about Love are still looking for fiction and deeply personal essays about LOVE in all its myriad expressions (romantic, erotic and platonic)! read more
The 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! The Aesthetica Creative Writing Award is an international literary prize that celebrates excellence in Poetry and Short Fiction. The prize is now in its 11th year, hosted by the international art and culture publication, Aesthetica Magazine. With the aim to support and nurture new writing talent, it awards publication within an inspiring anthology to a shortlist of 60 writers, including a winner from each category. Prizes: £1,000 prize money for the Poetry winner £1,000 prize money for the Short Fiction winner Publication in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual A… read more
Wollongong Writers Festival Short Story Prize
Closing Date: 15 September 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: http://www.wollongongwritersfestival.com/competitions/
First Prize $1000 Highly Commended $200 Theme: WORLD-CHANGING WORDS Word limit: 2500 words The Wollongong Writers Festival Short Story Prize will be awarded for a story up to 2500 words on the theme ‘World-Changing Words’. The winning entry will receive $1000 and publication in Mascara Literary Review. The theme can be interpreted as broadly and playfully as you like. Feel free to experiment with form and content, but please keep submissions within the word count. Entry fee is $15. The winner of the Wollongong Writers Festival Short Story Prize will receive $1000, and the winning entry will be published in… read more
ARKfest: Short play festival 2018
Closing Date: 27 October 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: http://www.arktheatremelb.com/
Submissions required for an exciting new ten minute play festival 24- 25th March 2018. Play submissions open 21st – 27th October 2017. Entry fee $10 per 3 plays. Up to 25 ten minute plays selected for performance by theatre groups around the state. Prizes awarded for Best Play, Theatre Group, People’s Choice and various participation awards including Best Director. Writer submission and theatre group registration details available soon on our website and Facebook page Enquiries to: Paula Armstrong at arkshorties@gmail.com Be a part of something new and exciting in the Yarra Ranges! read more
Ian Wilson Memorial Fellowship
Closing Date: 30 September 2017
Entry Fee: No
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: http://www.maygibbs.org.au/
Emerging children’s authors and illustrators The Ian Wilson Memorial Fellowship will give an emerging author or illustrator creative time away from home in the Trust’s Adelaide studio for 21 nights in March 2018. This aims to be a gift of time and support, enabling you to concentrate intensively on the development of new work, as well as offering networking opportunities and professional development. Applications open Tuesday 1st August 2017 Visit maygibbs.org.au and find more information via: Creative Time Fellowships, The Ian Wilson Memorial Fellowship. When you’re ready to apply, or if you have any questions, please contact Polly Hamer, Fellowships… read more
The Best of Times short story competition
Closing Date: 31 October 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: www.bestoftimes.com.au
For humorous short stories (any theme) up to 2500 words. read more
Hal Porter Short Story Competition
Closing Date: 15 December 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: www.eastgippslandartgallery.org.au/halporter2017
Submission Guidelines & Conditions of Entry 1. This competition began 24 years ago. Australian writers are invited to enter a short story, written in any style for the first prize of $1000. Manuscripts must be original works, in English, and must not have been previously accepted for publication, which includes websites. Any style of story is acceptable. No entry form is necessary. Shortlisted writers will receive UQP publications. Stories will not be returned. 2. Entries must be typed and on one side of A4 sized paper. They must not exceed 2,500 words and only the title of the story, not… read more
Deborah Cass Prize for Writers from Migrant Backgrounds
Closing Date: 16 October 2017
Entry Fee: No
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: https://deborahzcass.org
Applicants will provide a writing sample of no more than 3,000 words, which may be a complete work or part of a longer work. The writing may be fiction or non-fiction prose. Applicants must be either born overseas or have at least one parent who was born overseas. The winner will receive a cash prize of $3,000 plus a three-month mentorship with an established writer. The winning manuscript will be presented to Black Inc. There is also the opportunity for publication of the wining excerpt in Mascara Literary Review. read more
Rolf Boldrewood Literary Award
Closing Date: 29 September 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: www.mrl.nsw.gov.au
Prose – fiction with an Australian theme or flavour. Maximum of 2,500 words. Poetry – in any form or style to a maximum of 80 lines with an Australian theme. read more
Positive Words AUGUST Mini-ccompetition
Closing Date: 31 August 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: http://positivewordsmagazine.wordpress.com/
Positive Words Magazine August Mini-Competition. Write a poem in ten lines or less, or a short story in 100 words or less including the word – BASKET – at least once. Entry fee is $2.00 in unused postage stamps. The prize is a six-month (6 issues) subscription to Positive Words Magazine. No entry form needed. All entries must be post-marked by 31 August 2017. Send entries to The Editor, Sandra James, PO Box 798, Heathcote 3523, Victoria. For further information about the magazine or competitions please email positivewordsmagazine@live.com.au or check the website/blog http://positivewordsmagazine.wordpress.com/ read more
Positive Words magazine End-of-Year Short Story & Poetry Competition
Closing Date: 31 October 2017
Entry Fee: Yes
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: http://positivewordsmagazine.wordpress.com/
Positive Words Magazine End-of-Year Short Story & Poetry Competition 2017. Open theme. Short stories up to 500 words; poems up to 32 lines. Entry fee is $4.00. First prize is $100, second prize a twelve-month (12 issues) subscription to Positive Words Magazine. All entries must be posted by 31 October 2017. Send entries to The Editor, Sandra James, PO Box 798, Heathcote 3523, Victoria. For further information about the magazine, entry forms or competitions please email positivewordsmagazine@live.com.au or check the website/blog http://positivewordsmagazine.wordpress.com/ read more
