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.
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
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
Creative Call for Applications – Fellowships
Closing Date: 31 May 2020
Entry Fee: No
Prizes Offered: Yes
More Information: www.maygibbs.org.au
May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust Applications for 2021 Creative Time Residential Fellowships are now open. Published authors or illustrators of at least one book for children or young people are invited to apply for “the gift of time”. The May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust provides accommodation, local support, and travel to our host city Adelaide. Visit maygibbs.org.au to find more information, provided under ‘creative time fellowships’. N.B. This information is most effectively viewed on a computer screen rather than on phones or tablets. For application details, contact Libby Tozer, Fellowships Coordinator: contact@maygibbs.org.au Completed applications must be received by 11.59pm on… read more
